Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses Tua, slew of injuries. And Belichick weighs in on Dolphins
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that Tua Tagovailoa is out for Sunday’s game at the Patriots, as expected, because of a concussion. He’s still in concussion protocol but is “better than the day before,” the coach said.
Teddy Bridgewater will start at New England (1 p.m., CBS).
Doctors don’t want Tagovailoa to consider his future at this time because that creates stress on his brain, which doctors don’t want as he recovers from a concussion. No decision has been made on his availability for Week 18. His brother, Taulia, told the Associated Press that he expects Tagovailoa to continue his football career.
“It doesn’t do anybody any service” to discuss Tagovailoa’s future, McDaniel said. “He has to be focused on his health.”
McDaniel said linebacker Bradley Chubb (hand) and fullback Alec Ingold (finger) are game-time decisions. Neither appeared at practice Wednesday or Thursday, but both were on the practice field Friday with a cast on their right hands.
Cornerback Xavien Howard, who was limited with a new knee injury Thursday, will practice Friday, McDaniel said. But he wasn’t seen during the brief portion of practice open to reporters.
But left tackle Terron Armstead’s status is in question. Armstead — who has been dealing with pectoral, knee and toe injuries — also now has a hip injury. He was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, and he wasn’t spotted Friday during the part of practice open to media.
“We’ll see if he can give it a go,” McDaniel said. “He knows our team is best served when he’s out there, but he has an obligation to the team because we do have other players very much capable that he doesn’t need to put himself in harm’s way.”
McDaniel said he “feels good” about the availability of right tackle Brandon Shell, who is dealing with a shoulder injury that limited him in practice on Thursday. “He had something pop up,” McDaniel said.
Receiver River Cracraft, who has sidelined with a calf injury, returned to practice Friday. Backup offensive tackle Eric Fisher, who also has a calf injury, was not seen at practice.
McDaniel addressed other issues:
▪ On why Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle haven’t been used on punt or kickoff returns this season (aside from two Hill kickoff returns early in the season): “That’s always up for discussion. How reliant we are on Tyreek and Waddle [on offense] plays into it. We feel we’re using two offensive players who have very dynamic skill sets. One reason Raheem [Mostert] is back there [on kickoff returns] as the starting running back is he gives us breakaway juice that we try to play to.”
▪ McDaniel declined to say whether Liam Eichenberg or Robert Jones would start at left guard: “I feel fortunate Rob has seen this opportunity,” McDaniel said. “He put his best NFL tape on display. He will continue to do so.”
The staff has raved about how Eichenberg played before his knee injury on Oct. 30 against Detroit. Jones has started seven games since then.
▪ McDaniel said the team “as of yet” hasn’t signed either of the quarterbacks who worked out for them Thursday, Jack Coan and Kyle Lauletta. But McDaniel didn’t rule it out.
With Tagovailoa in protocol, the Dolphins have two healthy quarterbacks: Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson. If Coan or Lauletta is signed, it likely would be to the practice squad.
▪ Tight end Cethan Carter has been on injured reserve with a concussion since Week 1, and “doctors decided it was best for his health” to stay on injured reserve, McDaniel said.
▪ Myles Gaskin’s shoulder injury is what led to him going on injured reserve, creating a roster spot for Eichenberg.
BELICHICK ON DOLPHINS
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said the Dolphins will run the same offense with Bridgewater as they do with Tagovailoa.
“You can’t go into a game with two different offenses,” Belichick said. “It’s impossible. I’m sure there are things they do specifically for one guy or the other, but generally speaking it’s the offense. They can run their offense.
“There’s no doubt about it, it’s still the same. One’s right-handed, one’s left-handed, that definitely affects some things right there, but we could be looking at a different quarterback, just like we were in Arizona [when Kyler Murray was injured against the Patriots], in the first series of a game. So you have to be ready for who you expect to play, but that can change.”
Belichick said “I’ve always had a ton of respect for Teddy. He presents a lot of the same problems that Tua does.”
This story was originally published December 30, 2022 at 12:21 PM.
