EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — In a crucial matchup for the Miami Dolphins against the New York Jets on Sunday, Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out, and Tyler Huntley will take over as the starting quarterback.
Tagovailoa’s absence was confirmed around 90 minutes prior to kickoff, and the Dolphins, holding an 8-8 record, are desperately seeking a victory to maintain their playoff chances.
This will mark Tagovailoa’s second consecutive game missed due to a hip injury. On Friday, he was deemed doubtful by the team’s final injury report after head coach Mike McDaniel indicated that it was “unlikely” he would participate in the game. The status of Tagovailoa for any upcoming playoff appearances remains uncertain.
In his previous outing, Huntley led the Dolphins to a 20-3 victory against the Cleveland Browns, showcasing an impressive performance where he completed over 80% of his passes for 225 yards, along with one touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown. Additionally, Huntley excelled in the ground game, finishing as Miami’s leading rusher with 52 yards on seven carries.
To secure a playoff spot for the third consecutive year, the Dolphins not only need a win over the Jets but also require the Denver Broncos, currently 9-7, to lose their game at home to the Kansas City Chiefs (15-1), who are resting their star quarterback, Patrick Mahomes. Should Miami fail to secure a win or tie against the Jets, and if Denver also loses, the Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) would claim the AFC’s final playoff berth.
Miami’s wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill were both active for the game despite recent injury concerns; Waddle returns after missing the last two games due to a knee issue.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins have declared other players inactive, including wide receivers Dee Eskridge and Erik Ezukanma, offensive linemen Andrew Meyer and Braeden Daniels, as well as linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. and Mohamed Kamara.
On the opposing side, the Jets will be without right tackle Morgan Moses (knee) and nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (back) among their inactive list. Notably, cornerback Sauce Gardner was confirmed out on Friday and subsequently was placed on injured reserve on Saturday due to a hamstring injury.
