Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, as anticipated, was formally dominated out for Sunday’s recreation towards the New England Patriots attributable to his concussion.
The third-year quarterback stays within the NFL’s concussion protocol and certain in a few of the early phases of the five-step return-to-play course of as he didn’t observe all week.
McDaniel labeled Tagovailoa as “better than the day before” on Friday because the staff is taking the strategy of not having him fear about something past the present day. Tagovailoa has been at staff amenities this week, principally with medical employees but in addition attending staff conferences whereas not collaborating in positional conferences with the opposite quarterbacks.
Teddy Bridgewater is in line to begin for the Dolphins in Foxborough on Sunday with rookie Skylar Thompson his backup quarterback.
McDaniel mentioned a number of different Dolphins are anticipated to be game-time choices forward of the essential matchup towards the Patriots with vital playoff implications for each AFC East rivals.
The staff’s official harm report listed deal with Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard, exterior linebacker Bradley Chubb, fullback Alec Ingold, deal with Greg Little and huge receiver River Cracraft as questionable with deal with Eric Fisher uncertain.
Howard, though McDaniel mentioned he was anticipated to observe Friday, didn’t take part after popping up on the Thursday harm report with a knee ailment.
Armstead missed all three of the week’s practices as he nurses toe, pectoral, knee and hip accidents. Armstead is now coping with an harm to a fourth physique half, the hip, after already coming into the previous week with the opposite three illnesses.
“A lot of trickle-down effect. He’s a warrior,” McDaniel mentioned. “He’s going to push it until game time and see if he can give it a go.”
There is precedent for Armstead taking part in a recreation regardless of lacking all three practices in per week. That was forward of the staff’s Week 3 recreation towards the Buffalo Bills, however again then, Armstead solely had considerations along with his toe.
Chubb (hand/ankle) and Ingold (thumb) each returned to observe Friday after lacking Wednesday and Thursday drills. Both wore a solid on their proper hand.
“All players kind of fall under that umbrella [of game-time decisions],” McDaniel mentioned.
Said Ingold: “Just ready to do everything I can to play, and we’ll see what happens when we go up to Foxborough.”
He added he’ll attempt to give attention to utilizing the left hand for a catch if he performs and a go comes his approach.
“I think I’m going to go straight one-handed,” Ingold mentioned. “I was going to ask Tyreek [Hill]. I know he had some good one-handed catches, so I think I’m just going to watch some tape on him and ask him some questions there.”
Cracraft and Fisher — each with calf accidents — had missed observe on Wednesday and Thursday. Fisher was nonetheless not training Friday, however Cracraft returned to drills for the primary time since initially hurting his calf on Dec. 8, the Thursday earlier than the Dolphins’ loss to the Chargers.
“It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a very frustrating process,” mentioned Cracraft, who added he had a setback through the restoration.
Little popped up on the harm report Friday for a foot harm for his questionable designation. Although proper deal with Brandon Shell appeared on the Thursday harm report for a shoulder ailment, McDaniel feels assured he’ll be capable to play Sunday.
The Patriots have already dominated out three gamers with concussions — huge receiver DeVante Parker, tight finish Jonnu Smith and defensive again Marcus Jones — and cornerback Jack Jones attributable to a knee harm.
Questionable for New England: Tight finish Hunter Henry (knee), cornerbacks Jonathan Jones (chest) and Jalen Mills (groin), working again Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and huge receiver Tyquan Thornton (knee).
Left guard determination
McDaniel wouldn’t reveal Friday who he’s beginning towards New England between Liam Eichenberg, who was activated off injured reserve this week, and Robert Jones.
With Jones filling in since Eichenberg injured his knee within the second half of the Oct. 30 win on the Detroit Lions, McDaniel did supply some constructive phrases about his play over seven begins since.
“I feel fortunate that Rob really seized the opportunity that he’s had,” McDaniel mentioned. “I think he’s put his best NFL tape on display. I think he’s continued to get better. We’ll continually do what’s best for the team, in our opinion, and that’s for the players to earn.”
Cethan Carter, Myles Gaskin IR updates
With heightened concussion discuss this week, it’s price noting that Dolphins tight finish and particular teamer Cethan Carter has not performed since struggling a concussion on a Week 1 kickoff within the first assembly towards New England.
He remained in concussion protocol the subsequent 4 weeks earlier than being positioned on injured reserve in early October, with out returning this season.
“That was something that doctors and Cethan really decided it was best served for [his] health to do so,” McDaniel mentioned Friday. “It was much less of me deciding anything, rather than him and medical professionals choosing that being the best path for him.”
With Eichenberg activated, working again Myles Gaskin was positioned on injured reserve to make room. He was solely deemed to have an sickness on the harm report the week prior, however McDaniel mentioned there was extra to his state of affairs.
“He had to get something with his shoulder,” McDaniel mentioned. “But beyond that grayness of detail, I wouldn’t really be able to elaborate on, but it was something that best served Myles to get on the road to recovery because it was something that was plaguing him for a minute.”
Practice squad transfer
The Dolphins signed huge receiver Calvin Jackson Jr., a Fort Lauderdale native and native highschool soccer standout at Coral Springs Charter, again to their observe squad Friday. He had spent 5 weeks on the staff’s observe squad earlier this season. Jackson is the son of the previous Dolphins security by the identical identify who made 57 begins for the staff from 1994-1999.
To make room for Jackson, Miami launched DaeSean Hamilton from the observe quad after initially signing him on Dec. 14.
If Cracraft is unavailable for Sunday, the Dolphins have an choice to elevate Jackson or signal Braylon Sanders, who has used all three of his elevations, to the lively roster. Miami has stored rookie Erik Ezukanma inactive for all 15 video games this season.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com