As Tagovailoa returns to practice, Dolphins’ McDaniel updates backup QB, other issues
The Dolphins know their very likely starting quarterback this week (Tua Tagovailoa), but the backup won’t be determined until the end of the week.
Tyler Huntley, who started the past three games in Tagovailoa’s absence, will miss Sunday’s home game against Arizona (1 p.m., Fox) with a shoulder injury sustained last Sunday against Indianapolis.
Coach Mike McDaniel said he wants to see the three other available quarterbacks --Tim Boyle, Skylar Thompson and newcomer C.J. Beathard - before determining who will back up Tagovailoa this week.
Thompson began the season as the Dolphins’ No. 2 quarterback but sustained rib and chest injuries against Seattle in his first start after replacing the concussed Tagovailoa. Though Thompson practiced fully last week, he said last week that he was having discomfort throwing deep passes because of the injury.
Tagovailoa remains on injured reserve but likely will be activated later this week. On Wednesday afternoon, he practiced for the first time since sustaining a concussion Sept. 12 against Buffalo. Tagovailoa cannot clear concussion protocol until he practices, and two doctors clear him. He didn’t look rusty in a limited number of throws during the portion of practice open to reporters.
“You [hope] for a couple of good days with no blips so he’s cleared to return,” McDaniel said.
At the moment, Boyle and Thompson and Huntley are the quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Beathard, who was signed to the practice squad on Wednesday, has a 3-10 record as a starter, with 19 touchdowns and 14 interceptions and an 82.1 career passer rating.
“C.J. was a third round draft pick the first year I was in San Francisco,” McDaniel said. “I worked pretty hands on with him. What I like about him is his competitive drive, his arm talent and his toughness. He’s a competitor through and through.”
Beathard reached an injury settlement with Jacksonville in August; McDaniel reached out to him at that point and Beathard agreed to let the organization know when he was healthy.
McDaniel agreed that Tagovailoa’s return would provide a boost to the team; he noted that he had the most votes in the team vote for captains during the preseason.
Asked why Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve when he didn’t have any symptoms, McDaniel said: “It’s pretty simple when medical experts are advising you to do one thing. The whole issue was it needed time to rest for that one injury. That made it pretty cut and dried.”
Tagovailoa is expected to be the only Dolphins player designated to return this week from either injured reserve or the physically unable to perform list.
Others eligible to return at this time include receiver River Cracraft and safety Patrick McMorris (who are both on injured reserve) and three players on the physically unable to perform list -- outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Cam Goode and guard Isaiah Wynn. None are yet ready to begin practicing.
PRACTICE UPDATE
Cornerback Kader Kohou was the only surprise absence at Dolphins practice. Huntley and cornerback Storm Duck (ankle) also missed practice, while Calais Campbell and Terron Armstead were given rest days.
Here’s my Wednesday morning six-pack with one pleasant surprise this season and other roster moves on Wednesday.
This story was originally published October 23, 2024 at 1:33 PM.
