Dolphins’ McDaniel updates situations with Tua, Bridgewater, Thompson and other issues
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater remain in concussion protocol.
If Bridgewater clears concussion protocol on Saturday, then he will back up rookie starter Skylar Thompson on Sunday against visiting Minnesota (1 p.m., Fox).
If Bridgewater doesn’t clear protocol by Saturday, then practice squad quarterback Reid Sinnett will be elevated to back up Thompson.
Tagovailoa is out on Sunday whether he clears concussion protocol or not.
McDaniel says the fact Thompson is starting against Minnesota doesn’t mean he is the team’s new No. 2 quarterback behind Tagovailoa. Bridgewater remains the No. 2 quarterback.
“We’re starting Skylar because we thought it was best for the team having the week to prepare,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel said Tagovailoa, who has been cleared to throw, has “used this week to get reps. He’s getting reps preparing [to return]. The team teams need him as far as his spirit and encouragement.
“Skylar needs his help. He was pushing us vocally [Thursday] at the start of team reps. He’s a captain. He has really assumed [doing] all of the things that aren’t football directly. He has assumed the same responsibility, which I commend him.”
McDaniel has declined to say when Tagovailoa will play again, but the Oct. 23 Sunday night game against visiting Pittsburgh is certainly very much in play.
Teams don’t typically reveal what stage of concussion protocol a player is in; Tagovailoa, by virtue of doing on-field work this week, is in at least stage three of the five stages that must be navigated to clear protocol.
Bridgewater has been getting a few practice reps this week. “What he has done is become one of the most diligent note takers on the entire team,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel also offered insight on why the team drafted Thompson:
“We were really excited to draft him. We were targeting him for a long time. That being said, he has exceeded expectations. I didn’t know how he prepared or that the moments aren’t too big for him. What you saw on tape was a guy who was super tough....
“One thing I look for when I’m watching quarterbacks... is: Is he seeing defenders or is he looking at receivers? Are you staring at the routes seeing if they’re open or are you looking at defenders? When you are looking at defenders, you can anticipate timing, which maximizes yards after catch and explosiveness. You saw how competitive he was. All of those things are a pretty sound formula for a guy to be pretty solid in the NFL. He’s got an entire team excited to play with him.”
McDaniel addressed other issues in his Friday media briefing:
▪ A day after offensive coordinator Frank Smith expressed optimism that Austin Jackson would likely come off injured reserve and play on Sunday, McDaniel - asked if that remains the case - said: “Frank is overly optimistic to a fault. That was a hair aggressive by one of my favorite people on staff.”
Jackson started the opener and has missed the past four games because of an ankle injury.
McDaniel did not answer directly when asked if Jackson would be reinserted as the starting right tackle, ahead of Greg Little, when he returns.
▪ On Wednesday, McDaniel said the ping pong table was removed because Tyreek Hill and the other captains wanted players to focus more on game preparating.
Then Hill, seemingly tongue-in-cheek, said Thursday that the table was actually removed because it was bent and would be replaced by a nicer table.
Asked to clarify the situation, McDaniel said Friday:
“It’s the players’ locker room. If they giveth, they can take it away and they can re-giveth. That’s their space. I just want them to be here at work as long as possible. If the story changes 14 times, I [couldn’t] care less. It’s their space.
“If that does change, good for them, upgrading their standards in ping pong play. It’s really not that meaningful to me. It’s the captain’s locker room, and he’s one of the captains. What he says goes to a degree.”
PRACTICE UPDATE
Left tackle Terron Armstead, who hasn’t practiced in a month because of a toe injury, was not spotted at practice on Friday. Neither was Jackson.
Armstead and Elijah Campbell (foot) were the only players on the 53-man roster who missed practice on Thursday, but Campbell returned on Friday.
Byron Jones remains on the PUP list and hasn’t practiced since training camp began.
This story was originally published October 14, 2022 at 11:58 AM.
