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Tag: Tua Tagovailoa

  • Around the NFL: How Week 18 sets up the AFC field for Broncos’ potential playoff opponents

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    Around the AFC

    Patriots, Jaguars vying for top seed. The Broncos received a massive belated Christmas gift on Monday courtesy of Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, who relinquished all gamesmanship and said point-blank that Los Angeles would rest star quarterback Justin Herbert. Denver would have to absolutely implode to lose Sunday’s matchup. In such an event, though, New England (13-3) and Jacksonville (12-4) would be set up to seize that vaunted No. 1 seed in the AFC. The Patriots are playing a 7-9 Dolphins team that’s been mathematically eliminated; the Jaguars face 3-13 Tennessee, one of the worst teams in the NFL. Denver can’t afford to get too cute here.

    Fernando-mania. The Raiders are the NFL’s hottest current mess. They’ve lost 10 straight. The Pete Carroll experiment seems all but destined to end after one unceremonious year. 48-year-old minority owner Tom Brady was captured by TMZ getting a little close with 25-year-old influencer Alix Earle on New Year’s Eve. Las Vegas continues to be in the news for plenty of reasons beyond the actual on-field product. The good news? Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is only solidifying his case as a legitimate No. 1 pick, with a 14-of-16 line for 192 yards and three touchdowns in a drubbing of Alabama at the Rose Bowl on Thursday. Raiders general manager John Spytek has to be licking his chops.

    Rivers done, again. The great season-saving Philip Rivers Experiment is over, as the 44-year-old will now step back into retirement after three losses in Indianapolis. What a valiant effort it was, though: Rivers has a higher QBR (39.3) in three starts in 2025 than the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa or the Raiders’ Geno Smith have this season. The Colts announced rookie QB Riley Leonard will start in Week 18, with Indianapolis (8-8) removed from playoff contention. Rivers, though, expressed nothing but gratitude for the opportunity.

    “I got three bonus games that I never saw coming,” Rivers told reporters, “and couldn’t be more thankful that I got an opportunity.”

    Around the NFC

    Teach me how to Purdy. It’s time to officially crown San Francisco as serious NFC contenders. The 49ers were a distant afterthought in their own division a couple months back, floating at 6-4 behind Seattle and the Rams. Suddenly, the Niners have ripped off six wins in a row with the return of starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who’s playing with rarely-before-seen levels of confidence. Case in point: hitting a nasty Dougie after a touchdown against the Bears last Sunday in a 24-of-33, 303-yard, five-total-TD performance. As 49ers tight end George Kittle has said, heaven “forbid a white guy has a little bit of motion.”

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  • Adam Schefter hints Dolphins are planning for major Tua Tagovailoa trade

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    Many called the New York Jets the winners of the NFL trade deadline.

    The team shipped off superstars Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams and brought back three first-round picks, a second-round pick, and former second-round receiver Adonai Mitchell to help first-year head coach Aaron Glenn build a more competitive team next season.

    With five first-rounders over the next two drafts, many expect the Jets to use those picks to draft a franchise quarterback, and given the caliber of QB play in the rest of the division, that leaves the Miami Dolphins as the odd team out.

    Though Miami locked up QB Tua Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212 million extension last year, the 27-year-old signal-caller hasn’t played up to that massive deal this season. The Alabama alum has struggled, throwing for 1,779 yards, 15 touchdowns, and an NFL-high 11 interceptions, and his 87.6 passer rating is his lowest since his rookie year (87.1).

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    Because Tagovailoa appears to have regressed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes the Dolphins could position themselves to trade the former No. 5 overall pick, along with a few others like Bradley Chubb who didn’t get moved at the deadline, once the season ends to stockpile more picks to potentially draft their next QB of the future as well.

    “Think about the Miami Dolphins here — Josh Allen is in Buffalo, Drake Maye is in New England, the New York Jets are going to be getting a high-profile quarterback in the next two years, whether it’s the draft class of 2026 or 27 or both,” Schefter said on the latest episode of “The Adam Schefter Podcast.”

    “And Miami has Tua down there; at some point in time, we’ll expect them to be searching for a new quarterback. … [They’re situation] could lead in the offseason to the Dolphins being more aggressive and willing to listen to trades revolving around their players to get as much draft capital as a team like the New York Jets now has.”

    Read More: ESPN Analyst: 49ers QB Mac Jones Could Take Brock Purdy’s Job Permanently

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    It’s been speculated that Tagovailoa is one more bad performance away from being benched for either Zach Wilson or rookie Quinn Ewers. Both have played this season with Tagovailoa pulled in garbage time.

    With the number of QBs expected to go in the first round of the 2026 draft — Alabama’s Ty Simpson, Oregon’s Dante Moore, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier — it’s possible the Dolphins could stockpile enough ammunition to trade up to the No. 1 overall pick (they’re currently projected to draft fourth overall themselves) to ensure they get whichever QB they want.

    Read More: Packers ‘Looking Into’ Signing Former Second-Round CB, Says NFL Insider

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  • The Falcons’ offense will not save them. It’s going to be up to the defense

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    The scene on the field after the Falcons’ 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta defense has been the most consistent part of this season thus far. The Falcons, now 3-4 overall, had allowed an opponent to score more than 28 points only once this season (30-0 at Carolina) before Sunday’s 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

    That string of play ended when the Dolphins scored their 30th point of the game on a pass from Tua Tagovailoa to running back Ollie Gordion II early in the fourth quarter. Gordon II had been sharing carries with Achane throughout the game and remained a threat to score. 

    The defense will have to be who saves this season from going in the wrong direction. Because it doesn’t look like offense, whether Michael Penix is under center or his backup Kirk Cousins is starting again next week.  

    Atlanta has had difficulty scoring touchdowns this season. The Falcons have managed to score more than 25 points once in seven games, including on Sunday. That 34-point game came against the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 28. It remains the best overall co-performance from the Falcons’ defense and offense. In his second year with the franchise, offensive coordinator Zach Robinson doesn’t seem to have created an offensive identity for the Falcons’ offense.

    Enter Kirk Cousins, who hasn’t started a game since Dec. 12, 2024, when the Falcons defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on the road, 15-9. In that game, Cousins was 11-17 for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier had a combined 34 carries during that game for a combined 168 yards. On Sunday, the Falcons had a combined 45 rushing yards. 

    Robinson, top five in the National Football League in rushing prior to Sunday’s game, had 25 yards on nine carries. Despite only having had two 100-yard games this season, Robinson, with 549 yards on 106 carries in seven games, is still on pace for another 1,000-yard season. 

    After the game, Cousins was asked how it felt to be back out there as a starter. He told The Atlanta Voice, “Anytime you don’t have a win, it’s a tough day, but certainly the first time being back out there in 10 months, playing live football, it’s always good to get that experience.” 

    During the second half of the game, the Falcons’ offense had some motion before Robinson fumbled deep in Dolphins territory. The fumble was recovered by Miami cornerback Tyrel Dodson on the Dolphins’ 16-yard line. There was little, if any, consistency with the Falcons’ offense. Prior to the fumble, Cousins found Robinson on a screen play for 17 yards. During the game there were multiple opportunities to find Robinson, but he ended the game with just three catches for 23 yards. 

    The Falcons played their last home game for the next two weeks. They will be in New England next Sunday, and in Germany to face the Indianapolis Colts, one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 season, the following Sunday, Nov. 9. Atlanta will return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 16 against the Carolina Panthers.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Atlanta Falcons fall to Miami Dolphins 34-10 in Cousins’ return to starting lineup

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    Atlanta Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) got the start on Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins.
    Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice

    The Atlanta Falcons lost the coin toss. Lost the rushing battle between Bijan Robinson and Miami’s De’Von Achane. Lost the return of Kirk Cousins to the starting lineup. Lost the game, 34-10.

    The Falcons lost everything.

    “Tough day at the office,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “It was a tough day all around.”

    Morris admitted Miami dominated the game from start to finish. He was correct.

    The Dolphins gained 141 yards on the ground today. The Falcons had just 45.

    The Dolphins’ offense had 24 first downs. The Falcons only managed 11.

    Miami came into Sunday’s game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a 1-6 overall record and a three-game losing streak. The last victory was against the New York Jets, who have not won a game this season. The Dolphins are now 2-6.

    The Falcons were playing their last home game for two weeks, as Atlanta will be in New England next Sunday, and in Germany to face the Indianapolis Colts, one of the biggest surprises of the 2025 season, the following Sunday, Nov. 9.

    Atlanta has had difficulty scoring touchdowns this season. The Falcons have managed to score more than 25 points once in six games. That 34-point game came against the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 28. It remains the best overall co-performance from the Falcons’ defense and offense. In his second year with the franchise, offensive coordinator Zach Robinson doesn’t seem to have created an offensive identity for the Falcons’ offense.

    Enter Kirk Cousins (21-31 for 173 yards on Sunday), who hasn’t started a game since Dec. 12, 2024, when the Falcons defeated the Las Vegas Raiders on the road, 15-9. In that game, Cousins was 11-17 for 112 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier had a combined 34 carries during that game for a combined 168 yards.

    After the game, Cousins was asked how it felt to be back out there as a starter. He told The Atlanta Voice, “Anytime you don’t have a win, it’s a tough day, but certainly the first time being back out there in 10 months, playing live football, it’s always good to get that experience.”

    The Dolphins, on the other hand, have scored more than 24 points four times this season despite losing more than 90% of their games. Something had to give on Sunday.

    Miami scored the first touchdown of the game on its second possession. After a long drive that included a pass interference call on Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa found running back De’Von Achane for a five-yard reception and touchdown. 

    Early on in the game, Cousins’ veteran presence and experience helped the Falcons advance the ball and reduce turnovers. On a fourth and three, Cousins found tight end Kyke Pits Sr. for a first down. A few plays before that, Cousins threw the ball out of play after being flushed out of the pocket. He didn’t force a throw he knew he couldn’t make. That drive ended in a successful 45-yard field goal attempt by Parker Romo. 

    With Miami ahead 7-3, the Dolphins put together a two-minute drive that ended in a 34-field goal which gave them a 10-3 lead. The short field came courtesy of special teams play, both good and bad. 

    The good: The Dolphins punted down to the Falcons’ one-yard line following their previous offensive possession.

    The bad: Falcons punter Bradley Pinion’s 41-yard punt landed in Falcons territory. The positive return gave the Dolphins a scoring opportunity. 

    Tagovailoa found several Dolphins receivers other than leading receiver Jayden Waddle for first downs during the game, including Achane, tight end Tanner Connor, and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. It’s a wonder how this team was 1-6 before Sunday. 

    With 11 seconds remaining in the first half, Tagovailoa found receiver Malik Washington for his second touchdown throw of the game. With that touchdown, the Dolphins were ahead 17-3 at halftime, their best first-half offensive performance of the season.

    During the second half of the game, the Falcons’ offense had some motion before Robinson fumbled deep in Dolphins territory. Miami cornerback Tyrel Dodson recovered the fumble on the Dolphins’ 16-yard line. There was little, if any, consistency with the Falcons’ offense. Prior to the fumble, Cousins found Robinson on a screen play for 17 yards. 

    The Atlanta defense has been the most consistent part of this season thus far. The Falcons had allowed an opponent to score more than 28 points only once this season. That string of play ended when the Dolphins scored their 30th point of the game on a pass from Tagovailoa to running back Ollie Gordion II early in the fourth quarter. Gordon II had been sharing carries with Achane throughout the game and remained a threat to score. The extra point following Gordon II’s touchdown catch made the score 31-3.

    Miami would manage another field goal, and the Falcons scored their first field goal of the game on a run by running back Tyler Allgeier. The score was his third of the season.

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    Donnell Suggs

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  • Bryce Young, Rico Dowdle help Panthers rally from 17 points down to beat Dolphins 27-24 :: WRALSportsFan.com

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    By STEVE REED, AP Sports Writer

    CHARLOTTE. N.C. — CHARLOTTE. N.C. (AP) — Bryce Young threw a go-ahead, 4-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell Evans with 1:59 remaining, Rico Dowdle ran for 206 yards and a score, and the Carolina Panthers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to beat the Miami Dolphins 27-24 on Sunday.

    Young completed 19 of 30 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns after turning the ball over on Carolina’s first two possessions, leading to two touchdown passes by Tua Tagovailoa and a 17-0 Miami lead.

    Making his first start for the Panthers, Dowdle matched the second-highest rushing total in franchise history.

    The Panthers (2-3) remained unbeaten at home and equaled a franchise record with their 17-point comeback. Carolina improved to 4-117 (including playoffs) when trailing by 17 or more.

    Tagovailoa finished 27 of 36 for 256 yards with TD passes to De’Von Achane, Darren Waller and Jaylen Waddle in Miami’s first game since Tyreek Hill sustained a season-ending knee injury.

    The Panthers took the lead midway through the fourth quarter on a 1-yard TD run by Dowdle, but Tagovailoa answered quickly with a 46-yard touchdown pass to Waddle to put the Dolphins ahead 24-20 with 4:50 left.

    The Panthers responded with an impressive drive sparked Young’s 17-yard pass to rookie Jimmy Horn on fourth-and-5. Evans’ TD catch was his second score in two games.

    The Dolphins (1-4) had a chance to retake the lead, but Patrick Jones II sacked Tagovailoa for a 7-yard loss on third-and-10. Miami coach Mike McDaniel elected to punt with 1:10 left.

    On Carolina’s ensuing drive, Miami’s Jack Jones was flagged for pass interference on Hunter Renfrow on a third-down play, giving Carolina a game-sealing first down.

    The Dolphins were held to 19 yards rushing, and Tagovailoa was sacked three times.

    The momentum changed late in the second quarter when Young found struggling wide receiver Xavier Legette for a 7-yard touchdown strike to cut the lead to 17-7. Legette had come into the game with just 8 yards receiving on four catches this season and had sat out the last two games with a hamstring injury.

    A field goal by Ryan Fitzgerald on the final play of the half got Carolina within 17-10. Dowdle’s 53-yard burst set up another field goal to open the second half.

    Dowdle, a free-agent pickup from Dallas, also had a 43-yard run. He came within 5 yards of breaking the franchise single-game rushing record held by DeAngelo Williams.

    Dolphins: Host the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday.

    Panthers: Host Dallas next Sunday.

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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  • Dolphins turn focus to Skylar Thompson at QB with Tua out, heading West to face the 2-0 Seahawks

    Dolphins turn focus to Skylar Thompson at QB with Tua out, heading West to face the 2-0 Seahawks

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    SEATTLE (AP) — Having spent the past two seasons as his teammate, Seattle center Connor Williams struggled to watch what happened to Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa.

    He’d much rather see Tagovailoa on the field Sunday when the Seahawks host the Dolphins than watch his former teammate deal with yet another concussion.

    “It was awful. I mean, you never wish for something like that, and definitely with his history,” Williams said. “Just prayers out to him and his family.”

    The latest concussion suffered by the Miami quarterback and his uncertain future has centered the storylines around the Week 3 matchup.

    Tagovailoa was injured last Thursday night in a loss to Buffalo, his third diagnosed concussion in the past two years. The Dolphins have spent the week trying to get Skylar Thompson ready to make his first start since the 2022 season while also answering unknowns about when Tagovailoa — who has been placed on injured reserve — will return.

    For now, Miami is placing its faith in Thompson.

    “When I tell you that the confidence that the team has for Skylar is real and it’s earned, and it’s based upon thousands of hours that as a backup quarterback most people don’t see,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel said.

    The last time Thompson started was the 2022 playoffs against Buffalo. He never saw the field last season and his limited career opportunities thus far make it difficult to get a read on what exactly may be different with Thompson under center.

    “It’s tough because it’s not a huge sample size to see, and it’s been a long time, and you’re talking about a couple of years of growth from when he started last in a playoff game, being in the system,” Seattle coach Mike Macdonald said. “So that’s where we’re at right now.”

    While it’s a bit of an unknown how Thompson will step in, the Dolphins still have a dangerous set of skill talent like Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane.

    “One of my favorite parts about this game is going to play with the guys next to me. It’s been that way since I was a little kid, and I just find joy in going to battle with guys that I know have put so much into it to do their job,” Thompson said.

    In the backfield

    Seattle played last week without top running back Kenneth Walker III and his status against the Dolphins is uncertain due to an oblique injury. Whether it’s Walker or backup Zach Charbonnet carrying the load, Seattle’s offensive line must do better blocking up front.

    “We’ve got to move people. Right now we’re not moving them,” Macdonald said.

    The Seahawks had only 46 yards rushing and averaged 2.4 yards per rush against New England, which made the 103 yards Walker had in Week 1 against Denver that much more impressive.

    The guard spot has been the problem thus far and Seattle could continue to rotate at right guard where Anthony Bradford and Christian Haynes split time against the Patriots.

    Bring the noise

    Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks knows how loud it can get inside Seattle’s home stadium after spending the first four years of his career as a Seahawk.

    Brooks said the best way for the Dolphins to quiet the noise from Seattle’s passionate fans is to stymie the Seahawks’ offense and for Thompson and the Dolphins’ offense to make big plays of their own.

    “It gets as loud as the team can make it,” Brooks said. “So if we’re stopping them, it won’t be that loud. If we don’t, it will be pretty loud.”

    Thompson also has experience playing in hostile environments. He started a road playoff game against the Buffalo Bills during the 2022 season.

    “For me, that’s what you want,” Thompson said. “That’s why football is such a great game, and being able to go on the road, having a road opportunity with the guys and get to go in there and go to battle with them in that environment is fun. We’re really excited for that opportunity.”

    The other QB

    Geno Smith is coming off one of the best games of his career, completing 75% of his passes and throwing for 327 yards in the win over the Patriots. Smith was 17 of 25 passing in the second half and overtime, and carried Seattle’s offense on a day there was no run game.

    “Y’all been calling this man underrated for three years, and when is it going to stop?” Seattle wide receiver DK Metcalf questioned. “But he’s not underrated by any means.”

    Homecoming

    There was a huge smile on Tyler Huntley’s face Wednesday when he described the feeling of playing football in Miami.

    Huntley, signed this week by Miami off the Ravens’ practice squad, was born in Dania Beach, Florida, about 20 miles north of Miami and attended high school in South Florida. He went to college in Utah before signing with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent in 2020.

    “Man, it’s just like a dream come true,” Huntley said. “As a little kid, you’re looking up seeing the NFL and your home team being right there, you just want to be a part of it. I get the chance to be a part of it.”

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

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  • Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa leaves field with concussion after collision with Bills’ Damar Hamlin

    Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa leaves field with concussion after collision with Bills’ Damar Hamlin

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    Dolphins QB suffers concussion


    Dolphins QB suffers concussion

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    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was ruled out of Thursday night’s game with the Buffalo Bills because of a concussion after colliding with defensive back Damar Hamlin and hitting the back of his head against the turf.

    Tagovailoa, who has a history of dealing with head injuries, remained down for about two minutes before getting to his feet and walking to the sideline after the play in the third quarter. He made his way to the tunnel not long afterward, looking into the stands, appeared to smile and departed for the locker room.

    The Dolphins needed almost no time before announcing it was a concussion. The team said he had two during the 2022 season, and Tagovailoa was diagnosed with another concussion when he was a college player at Alabama.

    Bills Dolplhins Football
    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) and Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) collide during the second half of an NFL football game, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Tagovailoa suffered a concussion on the play.

    Lynne Sladky / AP


    “I have a lot of love for Tua, built a great relationship with him,” said quarterback Skylar Thompson, who replaced Tagovailoa after the injury. “You care about the person more than the player and everybody in the organization would say the same thing. Just really praying for Tua and hopefully everything will come out all right.”  

    Tagovailoa positioned himself for a big pay bump with an injury-free and productive 2023. He threw for 29 touchdowns and a league-best 4,624 yards.

    He signed a four-year, $212 million extension before this season and was the NFL’s leading passer in Week 1 this season. Tagovailoa left the game with the Dolphins trailing 31-10, which held as the final score. 

    “If you know Tua outside of football, you can’t help but feel for him,” Bills quarterback Josh Allen said on Amazon following the game. “He’s a great football player but he’s an even greater human being. He’s one of the best humans on the planet. I’ve got a lot of love for him and I’m just praying for him and his family, hoping everything’s OK. But it’s tough, man. This game of football that we play, it’s got its highs and it’s got its lows — and this is one of the lows.”  

    Tagovailoa was hurt on a fourth-down keeper with about 4:30 left in the third. He went straight ahead into Hamlin and did not slide, leading with his right shoulder instead.

    He wound up on his back, both his hands in the air and Bills players immediately pointed at Tagovailoa as if to suggest there was an injury. Dolphins center Aaron Brewer quickly did the same, waving to the sideline.

    Tagovailoa appeared to be making a fist with his right hand as he lay on the ground. It was movement consistent with something that is referred to as the “fencing response,” which can be common after a traumatic brain injury.  

    Tagovailoa eventually got to his feet. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel grabbed the side of his quarterback’s head and gave him a kiss on the cheek as Tagovailoa departed. 

    Hamlin was the player who suffered a cardiac arrest after making a tackle during a Monday night game in January 2023 at Cincinnati, causing the NFL to suspend a pivotal game that quickly lost significance in the aftermath of a scary scene that unfolded in front of a national television audience.

    “I love Tua on and off the football field,” Bills edge Von Miller said. “I’m a huge fan of him. I can empathize and sympathize with him because I’ve been there. I wish him the best.”  

    Tagovailoa’s history with concussions — and how he has since worked to avoid them — is a huge part of the story of his career, and now comes to the forefront once again.

    He had at least two concussions during the 2022 season. He was hurt in a Week 3 game against Buffalo and cleared concussion protocol, though he appeared disoriented on that play but returned to the game.

    The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that if a player shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — he must sit out the rest of the game.

    Less than a week later, in a Thursday night game at Cincinnati, Tagovailoa was concussed on a scary hit that briefly knocked him unconscious and led to him being taken off the field on a stretcher.

    His second known concussion of that season came in a December game against Green Bay, and he didn’t play for the rest of the 2022 season.

    Going into last season, Tagovailoa added muscle and spent time studying jiu-jitsu in an effort to learn how to fall more safely and try to protect himself against further injury.

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  • How to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more

    How to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins NFL game today: Livestream options, more

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    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) runs onto the field with teammates for the start of the game against the Washington Commanders at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida on Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024. 

    (Al Diaz/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images


    The Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins Week 1 NFL game will be played today. Mike McDaniel’s Dolphins feature an even more stacked offense with the addition of Odell Beckham Jr. (who won’t play today) and running back Jaylen Wright. Rookie receiver Brian Thomas Jr. is expected to be a big addition to the Jaguars offense, while quarterback Trevor Lawrence will hope to finally have the breakout season he’d expected from the start.

    Keep reading to find out how and when to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins game, even if you don’t have cable.

    How and when to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins game

    The Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins game will be played on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). The NFL football game will air on CBS, and stream on Paramount+ and the platforms featured below.

    How and when to watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins game without cable

    While many cable packages include CBS it’s easy to watch the game if CBS isn’t included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don’t have cable at all. Your best options for watching are below. (Streaming options will require an internet provider.)

    Watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins game with FuboTV

    Live TV streaming service Fubo offers the same top-tier programming you can get from your local cable provider at a fraction of the price. The streamer is a sports fan’s dream considering the sheer volume of live sporting events you can watch on it.

    Fubo packages include access to NFL games airing on your local CBS affiliate, Fox Sunday NFC games via “NFL on Fox,” “Sunday Night Football” on NBC, “Monday Night Football” on ABC and ESPN, and all games aired on NFL Network. There are plenty of channels for NCAA college football fans too, including SEC Network, Big Ten Network and ESPNU.

    If you want to give Fubo a try, now’s a great time to do so: Fubo is currently offering $30 off your first month of any subscription tier. That means you can watch every NFL and college football game airing on network TV this week starting at just $49.99. Once you subscribe, you can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer.

    Top features of Fubo:

    • There are no contracts with Fubo. You can cancel at any time.
    • The Pro ($49.99 first month, $79.99 thereafter) tier includes over 200 channels, including channels not available on some other live TV streaming services.
    • Upgrade to 4K resolution with the Elite with Sports Plus tier ($69.99 first month, $99.99 thereafter). It features 299 channels, including NFL RedZone.
    • Fubo also offers live MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. 
    • All tiers now come with unlimited cloud-based DVR recording.
    • You can watch on up to 10 screens at once with any Fubo plan.
    • Stream on your TV, phone, tablet and other devices.

    Paramount+: Watch CBS-aired NFL football games without cable

    If you want to spend your weekend watching football but don’t have a cable subscription, consider a subscription to Paramount+. Paramount+ gives viewers access to all CBS original content, movies and more. You can watch NFL football on the Paramount+ Essential tier for $7.99 per month, or watch college football and the NFL live on the Paramount+ with Showtime subscription tier, starting at $12.99 per month.

    The platform live streams NFL football games airing on CBS, NCAA college football, PGA Tour golf, professional soccer.

    What you can stream with Paramount+: 

    • All NFL football airing on CBS locally and nationally 
    • On-demand CBS programming, including hit shows like “Survivor” and “NCIS”
    • Paramount+ original programming like “Lawmen Bass Reaves” and “Tulsa King”
    • Professional soccer, including Champions League live (with Paramount+ with Showtime)
    • SEC college football games live (with Paramount+ with Showtime)

    Add Paramount+ to your Amazon Prime Video subscription

    You can also add Paramount+ to your Prime Video subscription to access CBS-aired NFL games, plus Paramount+ originals. Add Paramount+ Essential to your Prime Video subscription for $7.99 per month and watch every CBS-aired NFL game this season. Or, college football fans should add Paramount+ with Showtime to their Prime Video subscription to get access to CBS-aired college football and more for $11.99 per month. Both subscription tiers include a seven-day free trial. 

    Get Paramount+ as part of Walmart+ and watch the NFL this season

    The Walmart+ shopping subscription service includes access to the Paramount+ Essential tier (with live NFL games such as this one), a $60 per year value. Walmart+ subscribers also get discounts on gasoline at Mobil and Exxon stations, access to special members-only deals (including Walmart’s holiday deals), same-day home delivery from your local store and more. 

    Walmart+ costs $98 per year. Tap the button below to learn all the benefits of Walmart+, and to start your 30-day free trial.

    Why we like Walmart+:

    • Walmart+ members get access to this game through the Paramount+ streaming service.
    • You can get groceries delivered to your home quickly — sometimes same day —  without paying Instacart-like markups.
    • Walmart+ members get early access to Walmart’s Black Friday deals.
    • You can make returns from home — Walmart will pick them up for you. (Restrictions apply; must be present for pickup.)

    Sling TV: The most cost-effective way to stream NFL football

    If you don’t have cable TV that includes CBS, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream NFL football this season is through a subscription to Sling TV. We suggest leveling up your coverage to the Orange + Blue with Sports Extra tier to get more NFL and college football games this fall.

    The Orange + Blue plan regularly costs $60 per month, but the streamer currently offers a $25 off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $35. The Orange + Blue with Sports Extra plan is $50 for your first month and $75 per month after. The Sports Extra add-on features 18 channels, including NFL Redzone, ESPNU, SEC Network, Big 10 Network and ACC Network, making it ideal for pro and college football fans.

    The streamer is also currently offering big savings on four months of the Orange + Blue tier plus the Sports Extra plan when you prepay for the Sling TV Season Pass. The plan costs $219, reduced from $300.

    Note: Because Sling TV does not carry CBS, Sling subscribers will want to add Paramount+ to their bundle. The Sling + Paramount+ still offers the most cost-effective way to stream NFL games airing on network TV. (Paramount+ and CBS Essentials are both subsidiaries of Paramount Global.)

    Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue plan:

    • Sling TV is our top choice for streaming major sporting events like NASCAR.
    • There are 52 channels to watch in total, including local ESPN, NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
    • You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast games at the lowest price.
    • All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.
    • You can add Golf Channel, NBA TV, NHL Network, NFL RedZone, MLB Network, Tennis Channel and more sports-oriented channels (18 in total) via Sling TV’s Sports Extras add-on.

    Watch the Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Miami Dolphins game on Hulu + Live TV

    You can watch NFL football, including CBS, with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including both Fox and FS1. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every game on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch live college football games, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.

    Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month after a three-day free trial.

    While you watch the game from home, it’s a great time to stock up on the latest fan gear.  Fanatics is our first stop for the newest in fan gear. The online fan gear retailer is well stocked on the latest player jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies and more. There is plenty of NFL gear in stock, but you’ll want get yours before it sells out.

    Tap the button below to head directly to Fanatics to see the newest NFL fan gear drop.

    Watch today’s game with a digital HDTV antenna

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    Amazon


    You can also watch sports airing on network TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDTV channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS, Univision and more. Here’s the kicker: There’s no monthly charge.

    For anyone living in a partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or first-floor apartments), a digital TV antenna may not pick up a good signal — or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch sports without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable.

    This ultra-thin, multi-directional digital antenna with a 65-mile range can receive hundreds of HD TV channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, Fox, and Univision and can filter out cellular and FM signals. It delivers a high-quality picture in 1080p HDTV, top-tier sound and features a 12-foot digital coax cable.

    2024-5 NFL season Week 1 full schedule

    Below is the full Week 1 schedule for the 2024-5 NFL season.  

    Thursday, Sept. 5

    Friday, Sept. 6

    • Green Bay Packers vs. Philadelphia Eagles (in São Paulo, Brazil), 8:15 p.m. ET (Peacock)

    Sunday, Sept. 8

    • Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
    • Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
    • Tennessee Titans at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
    • New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
    • Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
    • Jacksonville Jaguars at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
    • Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
    • Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
    • Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
    • Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
    • Dallas Cowboys at Cleveland Browns, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
    • Washington Commanders at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
    • Los Angeles Rams at Detroit Lions, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

    Monday, Sept. 9

    • New York Jets at San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)

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  • Tua Tagovailoa criticizes Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores for coaching style with Miami Dolphins

    Tua Tagovailoa criticizes Minnesota Vikings DC Brian Flores for coaching style with Miami Dolphins

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    MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is facing criticism from his former quarterback, who said his new head coach’s style is much more encouraging.

    In an appearance on “The Dan Le Batard Show,” Tua Tagovailoa was asked about the difference between Flores, who coached the Miami Dolphins for the QB’s first two seasons, and current head coach Mike McDaniel.

    “If you woke up every morning and I told you you suck at what you did, that you don’t belong doing what you do, that you shouldn’t be here, that this guy should be here, that you haven’t earned this right,” Tagovailoa said. “And then you have somebody else come in and tell you, ‘Dude, you are the best fit for this. You’re accurate, you’re the best whatever, you are this, you are that.’ How would it make you feel listening to one or the other?”

    Tagovailoa struggled in his first two seasons, throwing 27 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 21 starts. Under McDaniel, he’s improved, with 54 touchdowns and 22 interceptions over 30 games in the past two seasons.

    “I don’t care who you are, you can be the president of the United States, you have a terrible person that’s telling you things that you don’t wanna hear or that you probably shouldn’t be hearing, you’re gonna start to believe that about yourself,” Tagovailoa said.

    Tagovailoa intimated other Dolphins players received similar treatment from Flores.

    In Flores’ three years as head coach, the Dolphins went 24-25. He was fired after the 2022 season and later filed a lawsuit against the Dolphins, three other teams and the NFL alleging racial discrimination. A judge ruled in 2023 the lawsuit against the league, the Denver Broncos, the New York Giants and the Houston Texans could move forward, but Flores’ allegations against the Dolphins must be dealt with in arbitration.

    After his firing, Flores coached linebackers for the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining the Vikings’ staff in 2023.

    Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell responded to Tagovailoa’s comments on Monday.

    “I don’t particularly have a comment on something that took place with another team or I don’t like to comment on comments of other players on other teams, but I can just tell you I know the players [Flores] works with, he’s got great relationships here, he really has,” O’Connell said. “I know you guys have heard a lot of them talk about how much they enjoy playing for him, and how much I enjoy working with him every day.”

    Flores is expected to talk to the media on Tuesday.

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  • How to watch today’s NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship: Starting time, livestream options, more

    How to watch today’s NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship: Starting time, livestream options, more

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    2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games
    NFC running back Christian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers and NFC defensive end Cam Jordan #94 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate as they dump water on NFC head coach Eli Manning after defeating the AFC during an NFL Pro Bowl football game at Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 05, 2023 in Las Vegas, NV.

    Michael Owens / Getty Images


    Super Bowl LVIII is still a week away, but there’s some football on TV to watch this Sunday. The 2024 Pro Bowl Games are being held in Orlando, FL this weekend. It’s a week-long competition that culminates in today’s epic flag football game, the Sunday Pro Bowl Games Championship.

    The best football players from the AFC and the NFC will all be on the field today, including nine players from the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers and five players from the AFC Champion Kansas City Chiefs. You won’t want to miss this Super Bowl warmup. Here’s how to watch it.

    How and when to watch the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games

    The 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games will be played at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, FL from Feb. 1-4, 2024.

    The first event of the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games was the Thursday Skills Showdown, held on Feb. 1, 2024.

    The Sunday Pro Bowl Games Championship will be played on Feb. 4, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. ET (12:00 p.m. PT). The game will air on ABC and ESPN and stream live on ESPN+, Sling TV and the other streaming platforms listed below.

    How to watch the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship without cable

    While most cable packages include ABC and ESPN, it’s easy to watch the Pro Bowl Games Championship if ABC and ESPN aren’t included in your cable TV subscription, or if you don’t have cable at all. Your best options for watching are below. (Streaming options will require an internet provider.)

    Stream the NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship on Sling TV for half price

    If you have don’t have cable TV that includes ABC, NBC, Fox or ESPN, one of the most cost-effective ways to stream live sports this year is through a subscription to Sling TV. The streamer offers access to the NFL Network, local NBC, FOX and ABC affiliates (where available) and ESPN with its Orange + Blue Tier plan. Also worth noting: Sling TV comes with 50 hours of cloud-based DVR recording space included, perfect for recording all the important games.

    That plan normally costs $60 per month, but the streamer is currently offering a 50% off promotion for your first month, so you’ll pay just $30. You can learn more by tapping the button below.

    Top features of Sling TV Orange + Blue tier:

    • There are 46 channels to watch in total, including local NBC, Fox and ABC affiliates (where available).
    • You get access to most local NFL games and nationally broadcast sporting events at the lowest price.
    • All subscription tiers include 50 hours of cloud-based DVR storage.

    Watch the NFL Pro Bowl Games Championships free with FuboTV

    You can also catch the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games on FuboTV. FuboTV is a sports-centric streaming service that offers access to just about every live sporting event you’d want to watch. Packages include ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC, ESPN, NFL Network and more, so you’ll be able to watch more than just today’s game, all without a cable subscription. (Yes, you can watch Super Bowl LVIII on CBS with Fubo TV.) Note: CBS and CBS Essentials are both subsidiaries of Paramount.

    To watch the game without cable, start a seven-day free trial of Fubo. You can begin watching immediately on your TV, phone, tablet or computer. In addition to NFL football, FuboTV offers MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS and international soccer games. FuboTV Pro Tier is priced at $80 per month after your free seven-day trial.

    Top features of FuboTV Pro Tier:

    • There are no contracts with FuboTV — you can cancel at any time.
    • The Pro tier includes 169 channels, including NFL Network. (You’ll need to upgrade to Ultimate for NFL RedZone.)
    • FuboTV includes all the channels you’ll need to watch college and pro football, including CBS (not available through Sling TV).
    • All tiers come with 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR recording.
    • Stream on your TV, phone, and other devices.

    Watch the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship on Hulu + Live TV

    You can watch the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship on ABC with Hulu + Live TV. The bundle features access to 90 channels, including local TV affiliates and popular cable channels. Unlimited DVR storage is also included. Watch every game on every network with Hulu + Live TV, plus catch live NFL preseason games, exclusive live regular season games, popular studio shows (including NFL Total Access and the Emmy-nominated show Good Morning Football) and lots more.

    Hulu + Live TV comes bundled with ESPN+ and Disney+ for $77 per month.

    Watch the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship on ESPN+

    In addition to live streaming the 2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games Championship, ESPN+ offers exclusive live sports, original shows, a vast library of on-demand content (including the entire “30 For 30” series) and more. Here’s a sampling of what’s available on ESPN+:

    • Exclusive fantasy sports tools and content from some of the sports world’s most respected voices
    • Every Fight Night UFC event UFC PPV event (PPV events are subject to an additional charge.)
    • Soccer, including EFL Championship, US Open Cup and Bundesliga
    • College sports including the Ivy League, Big Sky Conference and Atlantic A10 Conference
    • MLB and the World Series
    • Top-tier tennis including the Australian Open and Wimbledon
    • The PGA Tour and the Masters

    An ESPN+ subscription costs $10.99 per month, or save 15% when you pay annually ($110).  ESPN+ is also currently offering a cost-saving bundle. Get ESPN+ (With Ads), Disney + (With Ads) and Hulu (With Ads) for $14.99 per month.

    Watch NFL football live with a digital HDTV antenna

    tv-antenna-1.png

    Amazon


    You can watch the NFL and more live sports on TV with an affordable indoor antenna, which pulls in local over-the-air HDYC channels such as CBS, NBC, ABC, Fox, PBS, Univision and more. Here’s the kicker: There’s no monthly charge.

    Anyone living in partially blocked-off area (those near mountains or first-floor apartments), a digital TV antenna may not pick up a good signal — or any signal at all. But for many homes, a digital TV antenna provides a seriously inexpensive way to watch college football without paying a cable company. Indoor TV antennas can also provide some much-needed TV backup if a storm knocks out your cable.

    This amplified digital antenna can receive hundreds of HD TV channels, including ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, FOX, Univision and can filter out cellular and FM signals. It received signals 360 degrees and delivers a high-quality picture in 4K, UHD and 1080 HDTV, top-tier sound and features a 16-foot digital coax cable.

    Full 2024 Pro Bowl roster

    Here’s who will be representing the AFC and NFC at today’s Pro Bowl Games Championship. Starred athletes are starters.

    2024 NFC Pro Bowl Offense

    Quarterback

    • Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers*
    • Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
    • Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
    • Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (replaces Purdy)
    • Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (replaces Prescott)
    • Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (replaces Stafford)

    Running back

    • Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers*
    • D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles
    • Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
    • Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions (replaces McCaffrey)

    Fullback

    • Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers*
    • C.J. Ham, Minnesota Vikings (replaces Juszczyk)

    Wide receiver

    • CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys*
    • A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles*
    • Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
    • Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
    • Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions (replaces Brown)
    • DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (replaces Evans)

    Tight end

    • George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers*
    • Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
    • Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (replaces Kittle)

    Tackle

    • Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers*
    • Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles*
    • Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions
    • Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (replaces Williams)

    Guard

    • Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys*
    • Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons*
    • Landon Dickerson, Philadelphia Eagles
    • Tyler Smith, Dallas Cowboys (replaces Martin)

    Center (2)

    • Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles*
    • Frank Ragnow, Detroit Lions

    2024 NFC Pro Bowl Defense

    Defensive end

    • Nick Bosa, San Francisco 49ers*
    • Montez Sweat, Chicago Bears*
    • Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit Lions
    • Demarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys (replaces Bosa)

    Interior linemen

    • Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams*
    • Dexter Lawrence, New York Giants*
    • Javon Hargrave, San Francisco 49ers
    • Kenny Clark, Green Bay Packers (replaces Hargrave)

    Outside linebacker

    • Micah Parsons, Dallas Cowboys*
    • Danielle Hunter, Minnesota Vikings*
    • Haason Reddick, Philadelphia Eagles

    Inside/middle linebacker

    • Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers*
    • Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
    • Demario Davis, New Orleans Saints (replaces Warner)

    Cornerback

    • DaRon Bland, Dallas Cowboys*
    • Charvarius Ward, San Francisco 49ers*
    • Jaylon Johnson, Chicago Bears
    • Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
    • Darius Slay, Philadelphia Eagles (replaces Ward)

    Free safety

    • Jessie Bates, Atlanta Falcons*

    Strong safety

    • Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals*
    • Julian Love, Seattle Seahawks

    2024 NFC Pro Bowl Special Teams

    Long snapper

    • Andrew DePaola, Minnesota Vikings*

    Punter

    • Bryan Anger, Dallas Cowboys*

    Placekicker

    • Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys*

    Kick returner

    • Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints*

    Special teamer

    • Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Detroit Lions*
    • Nick Bellore, Seattle Seahawks (replaced Reeves-Maybin)

    2024 AFC Pro Bowl Offense

    Quarterback

    • Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins*
    • Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
    • Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
    • C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (replaces TBA)
    • Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts (replaces TBA)

    Running back

    • Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins*
    • James Cook, Buffalo Bills
    • Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans

    Fullback

    • Alec Ingold, Miami Dolphins*

    Wide receiver

    • Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins*
    • Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns*
    • Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
    • Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals

    Tight end

    • Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs*
    • David Njoku, Cleveland Browns
    • Evan Engram, Jacksonville Jaguars (replaces Kelce)

    Tackle

    • Laremy Tunsil, Houston Texans*
    • Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills*
    • Terron Armstead, Miami Dolphins

    Guard

    • Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts*
    • Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns*
    • Joe Thuney, Kansas City Chiefs
    • Kevin Zeitler, Baltimore Ravens (replaces Thuney)

    Center

    • Creed Humphrey, Kansas City Chiefs*
    • Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
    • Ryan Kelly, Indianapolis Colts (replaces Humphrey)

    2024 AFC Pro Bowl Defense

    Defensive end

    • Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns*
    • Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders*
    • Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati Bengals

    Interior linemen

    • Chris Jones, Kansas City Chiefs*
    • Quinnen Williams, New York Jets*
    • Justin Madubuike, Baltimore Ravens
    • DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis Colts (replaces Jones)

    Outside linebacker

    • T.J. Watt, Pittsburgh Steelers*
    • Khalil Mack, Los Angeles Chargers*
    • Josh Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
    • Jermaine Johnson, New York Jets (replaces Mack)

    Inside/middle linebacker

    • Roquan Smith, Baltimore Ravens*
    • Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens

    Cornerback

    • Pat Surtain II, Denver Broncos*
    • Sauce Gardner, New York Jets*
    • Jalen Ramsey, Miami Dolphins
    • Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns

    Free safety

    • Justin Simmons, Denver Broncos*
    • Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh Steelers

    Strong safety

    • Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore Ravens*

    2024 AFC Pro Bowl Special Teams

    Long snapper

    • Ross Matiscik, Jacksonville Jaguars

    Punter

    • AJ Cole, Las Vegas Raiders*

    Placekicker

    • Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens*

    Kick returner

    • Marvin Mims Jr., Denver Broncos*

    Special teamer

    • Miles Killebrew, Pittsburgh Steelers*

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  • Dolphins’ Tagovailoa considered retirement after concussions

    Dolphins’ Tagovailoa considered retirement after concussions

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa considered walking away from football.

    It was a brief thought after he was diagnosed with two concussions last season and many questioned if it was safe for the 25-year-old Miami Dolphins quarterback to continue playing.

    But after talking to his family and doctors, Tagovailoa ruled out retirement and started training in martial arts this offseason to help reduce head injuries.

    “I always dreamed of playing as long as I could to where my son knew exactly what he was watching his dad do,” Tagovailoa said Wednesday. “It’s my health. It’s my body. And I feel like this is what’s best for me and my family. I love the game of football. If I didn’t, I would have quit a long time ago.”

    Now, Tagovailoa is learning how to fall.

    Though he’s still early in his jiu jitsu training — a white belt — Tagovailoa is working on ways to land more safely when he’s on the field.

    “We used crash pads at first with trying to fall,” he said. “Obviously tucking your chin, that was one of the deals. It went a lot more into the technique of how to disperse your energy when you fall, the posture you want to be in, and if you’re not presented that posture, what are other things that you can do to help you disperse the energy when you fall.”

    Tagovailoa will have to wait until the start of the season to see how his training translates to the field, where split-second decision-making during the fast-paced play can sometimes make the difference in whether or not a player gets hurt.

    “I’ve been falling a lot this offseason. Just like with anything else, you continue to train it. You continue to work at it — it becomes second nature,” Tagovailoa said. “When a situation like that does happen, it’s not something new that’s presented to you. And for guys at my position, we barely get hit, if that, throughout practices, throughout the offseason, even going into training camp. We don’t get touched until the season starts.”

    Tagovailoa sustained his second known concussion of the 2022 season in a Christmas Day loss to Green Bay.

    And hitting the back of his head became an all-too-familiar, all-too-scary scene last season.

    In a September win over the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa missed Miami’s last three snaps of the first half after hitting his head and wobbling for a few steps as he got to his feet. He was cleared to return to that game and later said it was a back injury that caused the stumble.

    He was not formally diagnosed with a concussion from that incident.

    Four days later, he got hit again during a Thursday night game at Cincinnati in which he was briefly knocked unconscious and was taken off the field on a stretcher. As he lay on the turf, his fingers displayed what’s known as the “fencing response,” which typically indicates a serious neurological issue. That time, he was placed in the concussion protocol.

    Tagovailoa’s situation sparked quick and significant changes to the concussion protocols by the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The most notable addition was that an abnormality of balance and/or stability would be a symptom prohibiting a player from returning to a game.

    Since then, Tagovailoa said he has spoken to numerous neurologists whom he said do not believe he would be more susceptible to head injuries than any other player moving forward, nor would he be at a higher risk for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is the brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head.

    “It’s only when you’re constantly hitting your head against something. I think that tailors more toward linebackers, O-linemen, D-linemen, guys that are constantly going at it,” Tagovailoa said. “That also played into the factor of my decision-making and wanting to come back and play.”

    Despite the injuries, the Dolphins have said they are committed to Tagovailoa. In March, Miami picked up the fifth-year option on his rookie contract after he set career highs in passing touchdowns, passing yards and passer rating in a breakout season.

    Tagovailoa, who was drafted fifth overall by Miami in 2020, will enter the fourth year of his rookie deal this upcoming season and will be guaranteed $23.2 million.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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  • AP Source: Tagovailoa to miss Pro Bowl, still in protocol

    AP Source: Tagovailoa to miss Pro Bowl, still in protocol

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol and will not participate in the 2023 Pro Bowl, a person with knowledge of the matter told The Associated Press.

    The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the decision has not been announced officially.

    Tagovailoa was diagnosed with his second concussion of the 2022 season more than a month ago, after a Dec. 25 loss to Green Bay. He missed Miami’s final three games, including a playoff loss to Buffalo.

    Tagovailoa had been selected as a Pro Bowl first alternate and would have replaced either Joe Burrow or Patrick Mahomes, one of whom will play in Super Bowl LVII after Sunday’s AFC Championship game.

    The Pro Bowl will be held on Sunday Feb. 5, one week before the Super Bowl.

    The Dolphins have repeated that they remain committed to Tagovailoa as their starter for the 2023 season.

    “That’s something that’s driven by the doctors,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel said after the season ended. “They’re the experts in those fields, and when they tell us that he’s ready to play and as we expect, when they tell us that he’s ready to play coming in the spring or whatever, then we’ll press forward in that direction.”

    Miami’s general manager Chris Grier said that after conversations with doctors provided through the NFL’s players union, they do not believe that Tagovailoa is more susceptible to concussions than any other player.

    Tagovailoa was concussed Sept. 29 at Cincinnati after a scary hit that briefly knocked him unconscious. He was stretchered off the field and returned in Week 7.

    Tagovailoa took another hard hit four days before the Cincinnati game in a win over Buffalo. He appeared to show concussion symptoms but stayed in the game, and the team immediately after the game said that he had a back injury.

    The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that any player who shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — sit out the remainder of a game.

    Tagovailoa threw for a career-high 3,548 yards and 25 touchdowns in his third season. He led the NFL in passer rating.

    ___

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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  • Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition

    Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition

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    Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition – CBS News


    Watch CBS News



    Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition after collapsing on the field during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. CBS Chicago’s Charlie De Mar has the latest from Cincinnati. Then CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook joins Elaine Quijano to discuss what we know about Harlin’s cardiac arrest.

    Be the first to know

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  • Tua Tagovailoa officially out with concussion at New England

    Tua Tagovailoa officially out with concussion at New England

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    Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has officially been ruled out for Sunday’s game at New England after suffering a concussion in Miami’s Christmas Day loss to Green Bay.

    Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Friday that Tagovailoa is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol and is day to day as he focuses on his health.

    “He’s better than the day before,” McDaniel said. “But I’m also trying to get a team ready to play this game, and it really doesn’t do anybody any service to over talk the scenario where he’s got to be focused on his health and nothing else.”

    Teddy Bridgewater will lead Miami in Sunday’s critical division matchup, which will be a factor in whether the Dolphins clinch their first postseason berth since 2016. The Dolphins can clinch the playoffs with a win and a New York Jets loss to Seattle, or a tie combined with a Jets loss and Pittsburgh Steelers loss or tie.

    For Tagovailoa, it’s not clear when, or if, he’ll return to the field, but many current and former players have expressed concern for his long-term health after his second confirmed concussion of the season.

    McDaniel has appeared equally concerned for his 24-year-old starting quarterback, but has chosen his words carefully, offering few details on Tagovailoa’s future. He said Friday that he has blocked out outside opinions “diligently” regarding Tagovailoa’s health.

    “I haven’t read or talked or heard anything outside of doing my job with the people that I work with,” McDaniel said. “I think from an integrity standpoint, it’s important for me to do everything for the right reasons and not have influences either way with whatever the situation is.”

    Tagovailoa was previously concussed in a Week 4 loss to Cincinnati on a play that knocked him unconscious and caused him to be stretchered off the field.

    That was four days after he was allowed to return to a game against Buffalo after he appeared disoriented following a hit. It was an unsettling scene as Tagovailoa wobbled when he tried to get back on his feet, and the NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that any player who shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — sit out the remainder of a game.

    When he returned for Miami’s Week 7 matchup against Pittsburgh, Tagovailoa spoke about how stressful the whole process had been.

    “It’s been a process, that’s for sure,” Tagovailoa said in October. “Having to deal with the interviews with the NFL and the NFLPA and then having to go and see doctors outside with second opinions … but all of it is done for player safety. I’m glad that I got to go through those things to kind of understand more of the deals of concussions and the effects.”

    Tagovailoa’s brother, Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, told the Associated Press on Thursday that he does worry about his brother’s long term health, given how much information is available on Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, the progressive brain condition caused by repeated blows to the head.

    “That’s my brother,” he said. “I want him to always be safe, but at the same time play the game that he loves and do what he loves to do and see him happy. In life I feel like we all have to make those tough decisions, regardless of what he feels like doing at the moment. There are lot more years and a lot of more time too, because he’s still young.”

    ———

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

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  • Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered concussion on Sunday, head coach says | CNN

    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered concussion on Sunday, head coach says | CNN

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    CNN
     — 

    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, head coach Mike McDaniel said on Wednesday.

    McDaniel told reporters Tagovailoa’s status for Sunday’s game at the New England Patriots is uncertain and that the team is moving forward with Teddy Bridgewater as the starter.

    The 24-year-old Tagovailoa, who was diagnosed with his second concussion this season, is improving and is at the team’s practice facility on Wednesday, according to McDaniel.

    “He’s better than yesterday,” McDaniel said. “Beyond that, I feel like it’s weird to extrapolate beyond good, which is what he tells me.”

    McDaniel on Monday announced Tagovailoa was in the concussion protocol, a day after the quarterback played the entire game against the Packers. The coach could not pinpoint a moment in the game where Tagovailoa might have been injured.

    It was the second time this season the quarterback landed in the concussion protocol – the league’s policies for assessing and caring for players who sustain a concussion.

    McDaniel on Wednesday said that when he and other coaches reviewed game film on Monday they “had some questions” about Tagovailoa’s health, so the head coach urged the quarterback to see team doctors.

    Tagovailoa started the game well, throwing for 229 yards and a touchdown in the first half. It was a different story in the second half with Tagovailoa throwing interceptions on three consecutive drives to end the team’s 26-20 loss.

    “There were some things that caused us to really prod,” McDaniel told reporters Wednesday. “As a result, we felt like he needed to see medical professionals.”

    An NFL spokesperson said Wednesday the league and the NFL Players Association are reviewing “the application of the concussion protocol” in Tagovailoa’s latest case.

    “We welcome that review, and as we have done previously, we will report the results in conjunction with the NFLPA,” the NFL’s Brian McCarthy said.

    Tagovailoa was diagnosed with a concussion on September 29 after being sacked in a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tagovailoa laid motionless on the field for several minutes before he was placed on a backboard and stretcher. He missed the team’s next two games.

    That concussion came just days after Tagovailoa suffered an apparent head injury and was later allowed to continue playing in a game against the Buffalo Bills on September 25.

    Despite assurances it was actually a back injury, the NFLPA initiated a review into the handling of that case, and the union and the NFL subsequently agreed to update the concussion protocol.

    McDaniel on Wednesday was non-committal on shutting down Tagovailoa for the season even if he is cleared to play again.

    “I will do what the medical experts advise me to do, and I’m sure they’re not going to advise me in the wrong direction when it comes to his health,” McDaniel said.

    “I’m not going to go in direct conflict with what the doctors have told me to do which is to worry one day at a time. … His health is the first, foremost and only priority.”

    With a record of 8-7 and a playoff spot on the line, the Dolphins close out the season at the Patriots and then host the New York Jets on January 8.

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  • Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol again

    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol again

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    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been placed in concussion protocol for the second time this season.

    Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that Tagovailoa suffered a concussion sometime during the team’s loss against the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day, despite playing the full game. 

    “As far as the game was concerned, no one recognized anything with regard to any sort of hit,” he said. “I can’t really tell you exactly what it was.” 

    He added that third-year quarterback met with doctors and discussed symptoms with them, which led to him being placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Under the policy, every player diagnosed with a concussion must go through a five-step process before being cleared to practice or participate in a game. 

    SPORTS--FBN-PACKERS-DOLPHINS-3-FL
    Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa runs with the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2022, in Miami Gardens, Florida.

    Sun Sentinel


    McDaniel wouldn’t say whether Tagovailoa would start on Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots, which has playoff implications for both teams. For now, Dolphins backup Teddy Bridgewater is getting ready to potentially take his spot.  

    “It’s too soon to really tell,” McDaniel said. “You just know that someone goes into the protocol and you have to be ready to really do whatever with that. I know Teddy (Bridgewater) will prepare as though he’s starting and we’ll see as the week goes.”

    Earlier this season, Tagovailoa’s head was slammed to the turf and he suffered a concussion after a vicious hit during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 29. He missed two games as a result, and prompted the league to update how it handles concussions during games. The players union fired an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant involved in Tagovailoa’s concussion check during a game against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 25, when he suffered a head injury – yet returned to play. 

    Christopher Brito


    christopher-brito.jpg

    Christopher Brito is a social media producer and trending writer for CBS News, focusing on sports and stories that involve issues of race and culture.

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  • Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol again

    Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol again

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    MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has returned to the NFL’s concussion protocol, Miami coach Mike McDaniel said Monday.

    Tagovailoa was experiencing symptoms when he met with team doctors Monday, though McDaniel said it is unclear if Tagovailoa was concussed in Sunday’s 26-20 loss to Green Bay.

    Tagovailoa appeared to bang his head on the ground when he was tackled in the second quarter against the Packers, but he never left the game and was not evaluated for a concussion.

    “As far as the game was concerned, no one recognized anything with regard to any sort of hit. I can’t really tell you exactly what it was,” McDaniel said, adding that he got the news Monday afternoon.

    The concussion protocol is enacted whenever a player reports concussion-related symptoms, even if he isn’t certain to have a concussion.

    There is no set timetable for exiting the protocol, so Tagovailoa could potentially play in Sunday’s pivotal game at New England if he advances through the NFL’s five-step process and is cleared.

    Teddy Bridgewater will practice this week with the first team, but McDaniel said it is too early to name a starter for Week 17.

    “That’s one of the reasons you go and aggressively pursue a player like Teddy Bridgewater,” McDaniel said.

    If Tagovailoa did suffer a concussion, it would be his second this season.

    He entered the concussion protocol after taking a scary hit that knocked him unconscious during Miami’s Sept. 29 game at Cincinnati. He was stretchered off the field and returned in Week 7.

    Tagovailoa took another hard hit four days before the Cincinnati game during a win over Buffalo. He appeared to show concussion symptoms but was evaluated and stayed in the game. The NFL later changed its concussion protocol to mandate that any player who shows possible concussion symptoms — including a lack of balance or stability — sit out the remainder of a game.

    The injury comes at a challenging time for Miami (8-7), which has lost four straight to fall to the bottom of the AFC playoff field.

    “This is something that we have all of our fortunes ahead of us,” McDaniel said, “so it’s up to us to choose what we do with all the past experiences, move on to the next game.”

    ———

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

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  • Herbert, short-handed defense lead Chargers past Fins 23-17

    Herbert, short-handed defense lead Chargers past Fins 23-17

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    INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Justin Herbert threw for 367 yards and a touchdown and a short-handed Chargers defense got the best of the Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa as Los Angeles beat Miami 23-17 on Sunday night.

    The Chargers (7-6) moved into position for the final AFC playoff berth, ahead of the New York Jets. Their hold though would be short lived if New England beats Arizona on Monday night.

    “It was an incredible team win,” coach Brandon Staley said. “Defensively we answered all the challenges in the game that we had to face.

    “Justin was fantastic and definitely led the way for our team. He made a lot of winning plays and really made good decisions throughout the game.”

    Herbert — the sixth overall pick in 2020, one behind Tagovailoa — completed a career-high 39 passes on 51 attempts for his 21st 300-yard game. He became the first NFL quarterback to throw for 13,000 yards in his first three seasons.

    “There were a lot of good things from all three phases. The defense did an incredible job,” Herbert said.

    Tyreek Hill scored two touchdowns for the Dolphins, one of them on an improbable recovery of Jeff Wilson Jr.’s fumble that Hill took 57 yards to the end zone. But Tagovailoa had his worst game as an NFL starter, completing 10 of 28 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown as the Dolphins (8-5) lost their second straight.

    “They played to what they’re good at, and we just didn’t execute,” Tagovailoa said. “It was very disappointing for us to go out there as an offense and show what we showed. That’s not to our standard.”

    The Chargers held Miami to 219 yards despite not having safety Derwin James, cornerback Bryce Callahan and defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day because of injuries. The Dolphins came in with the league’s top-ranked pass offense.

    LA’s offense was buoyed by the return of Mike Williams, who had missed four of the last five games with a high ankle sprain. Williams had six catches for 116 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown while getting both feet in bounds near the back of the end zone to extend the Chargers’ lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter.

    Austin Ekeler, who finished with 104 scrimmage yards, had a 1-yard run off left tackle with 18 seconds left in the quarter to extend the lead to 17-7.

    Keenan Allen added 12 receptions for 92 yards.

    Cameron Dicker kicked three field goals, including one from 29-yards that gave the Chargers a 23-14 advantage with 2:40 remaining. Dicker’s kick capped a 17-play, 79-yard drive that took 8:39 off the clock.

    Hill finished with four catches for 81 yards, including a 60-yard TD in the third quarter on Tagovailoa’s best throw of the night, and became the Dolphins’ single-season leader in receiving yards. Chargers cornerback Michael Davis slipped in coverage at the LA 40, allowing Hill to make an easy catch and saunter untouched to the end zone to get Miami within 17-14.

    Miami’s Jason Sanders booted a 55-yard field goal with 1:10 remaining, but Los Angeles recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.

    “That’s hard to take. There’s a lot of investment, and it’s not good enough,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “I thought the defense played well enough for us to win. There’s stuff we can clean up, for sure. There’s a multitude of things.”

    SCOOP AND SCORE

    The Dolphins had 5 net yards and one first down on their first three possessions before finally getting on the scoreboard, thanks to Hill.

    On second-and-4 from the Miami 41, Wilson fumbled while tackled by Chargers safety Alohi Gilman during a 6-yard gain. There was a scramble for the loose ball until Hill picked it up, changed direction and quickly sprinted to his right and up the sideline.

    Hill became the only player in the Super Bowl era to score TDs via receiving, rushing, kick return, punt return and fumble return.

    RECORD BOOK

    Ekeler finished with eight receptions for 59 yards. His third catch moved him past Kansas City’s Kimble Anders (369) for the most by an undrafted running back in the common draft era. Ekeler now has 375 receptions in his six-year career.

    INJURIES

    Dolphins: Wilson suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter. Safety Eric Rowe had a hamstring injury in the third quarter.

    UP NEXT

    Dolphins: At Buffalo next Saturday night.

    Chargers: Host Tennessee next Sunday.

    ———

    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP—NFL

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  • Tua says he lost consciousness after being hit

    Tua says he lost consciousness after being hit

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    3:50 PM ET

    • Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN

    MIAMI — Speaking Wednesday for the first time since sustaining a concussion on Sept. 29, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said he remembers most of that night but lost consciousness after a hit that sent him to a hospital.

    He was concussed in Miami’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 4 when he hit his head on the ground while trying to extend a play, and was briefly hospitalized before being discharged and returning to Florida with the team after the game.

    Tagovailoa said he doesn’t remember what happened immediately after hitting his head on the ground and losing consciousness but does remember being driven to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center via ambulance, as well as his trip back to Miami with his teammates early the next morning.

    “I wouldn’t say it was scary for me at the time because there was a point where I was unconscious, so I couldn’t really tell what was going on,” he said. “When I did come to and kind of realized what was going on and what was happening, I didn’t think of anything long term or short term. I was just wondering what happened.”

    Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that it’s in the quarterback’s competitive nature to try to extend plays — but he spoke with Tagovailoa about recognizing when it’s time to concede and throw the ball away.

    Tagovailoa said that although it’s always been his mindset to make something happen when he’s on the field, he will have to learn when to accept that a play is dead.

    “Throwing the ball away hasn’t been something that I’ve done in the past really well,” he said. “Because I’m trying to make plays, and so just learning from that — if it’s not there, it’s OK to throw it away. It’s the longevity of me just being able to be the quarterback for this team and not try to make something out of nothing.

    “Plays will come to us, and that’s kind of what our mantra for our offense is.”

    Tagovailoa said the support he has received since the concussion stands out most to him about the events of the past few weeks.

    Beyond the messages and tweets from fellow players around the league, Tagovailoa said his neighbors brought over baked goods, candies and notes and artwork from their kids — all of which, he said, made him and his family feel the support from his community.

    What made his nearly two weeks away from football difficult, however, was having to stand by idly as the Dolphins skidded to a three-game losing streak in his absence. Tagovailoa was present throughout the facility while in concussion protocol and sought to help however he could. But it was frustrating not being able to help out on the field.

    “There’s things you can do in the locker room to keep the guys encouraged, to keep the guys going motivated,” he said. “But it sucks. As a competitor, I want to be out there with the guys. I want to be able to go out there and help our guys win games. And that’s a terrible feeling that I could only watch from the sidelines.”

    Tagovailoa cleared concussion protocol Saturday, although he was not active for the Dolphins’ game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6. He is preparing as the team’s starter this week for Sunday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

    The NFL’s leader in QBR at the time of his injury in Week 4, Tagovailoa said the process of his return to the field was “pretty stressful,” including his interviews with the NFL and NFLPA as part of their joint investigation into how his situation was handled.

    The Dolphins have seen a sharp decline in their offensive efficiency without Tagovailoa on the field. Through the first three weeks of the season, they ranked first and second in the league in points per drive and offensive expected points added, respectively. In the time since, they’ve fallen to 28th in offensive EPA and 29th in points per drive.

    It’s a similar situation as Tagovailoa faced last season, when he returned from a rib injury to a team on a four-game losing streak. He said that experience taught him not to press upon his return and that he is not solely responsible for the Dolphins’ success.

    “I just gotta be myself — I’m not the savior of this team,” he said. “I don’t just come in and we start winning games. It’s a team deal. The defense gets us stops, the offense goes and puts points on the board and the defense can help put points on the board as well as special teams. So for me, I just look at it as coming into this week and just be myself. Don’t try to force anything. Don’t try to make plays that aren’t there — just give our playmakers the ball and let them go to work.”

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  • McDaniel to reeling Fins: QB exits can’t be excuse

    McDaniel to reeling Fins: QB exits can’t be excuse

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    8:15 PM ET

    • Marcel Louis-JacquesESPN

    MIAMI — Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson was physically unable to return to Sunday’s 24-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings after he left in the first half with a thumb injury to his throwing hand, coach Mike McDaniel said.

    Thompson, who made his first career start, appeared to hit his right hand on a Vikings defender’s helmet while attempting a pass in the second quarter. He left for the locker room and did not return until the third quarter — but only to the sideline, not to the game.

    The seventh-round pick completed 7 of 13 passes for 89 yards before leaving. McDaniel confirmed he would have “definitely stayed with” Thompson had he been able to proceed but noted he “didn’t have any strength holding the ball.”

    Teddy Bridgewater finished the game in place of Thompson, completing 23 of 34 passes for 329 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

    It marked the third straight week that the Dolphins’ starting quarterback was unable to finish the game. Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion in Week 4, and Bridgewater was placed in concussion protocol after just one snap in Week 5.

    Miami also is now on a three-game losing streak after starting the season with three straight wins. McDaniel, however, said he refuses to isolate the team’s quarterback luck as the driving force behind the losses.

    “You can look at it as a reason for X, Y or Z — I challenge the guys not to,” he said. “We have a lot of faith in all the players that we have on this team, and the quarterbacks that we’ve been working with since last April, any one of them we have high expectations to go execute and succeed. Now, of course it’s not ideal. You want the guys that get all the reps during the week to play, but you always know that that’s a possibility.

    “I’m going to demand that the team does not point at that to be a reason for what’s happened or a reason for the loss. I think that’s the easy thing to do. I think that’s the path of least resistance, and generally the path of least resistance doesn’t lend the results that an ambitious, convicted, all-in players’ team, organization wants. Yeah, there’s always difficulties and adversity within NFL football games. I thought we had the capability to overcome that, and we didn’t.”

    Thompson wasn’t the only Dolphins player to leave Sunday’s game with an injury. Cornerback Nik Needham was carted off the field with a lower leg injury that a source confirmed is a torn Achilles tendon that will sideline him for the rest of the season. Linebacker Trey Flowers and cornerback Keion Crossen also left with foot and knee injuries, respectively, and did not return.

    Tagovailoa cleared concussion protocol Saturday and is expected to start next week against the Steelers, a source previously told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

    His return will be welcome for a Dolphins offense that has struggled to score without him.

    McDaniel reiterated that he won’t take the “easy out” of blaming Miami’s quarterback injuries for its three-game losing streak. He admitted it’s “not ideal” but added that he’s confident in the Dolphins’ ability to right the ship with their next five games coming against teams with losing records.

    “Every indication that I’ve had since I’ve been in the building, I don’t have anything to worry about how players are — how the organization, how staff, how the coaching staff, how people are going to respond,” he said. “We will find out if — that’s the great thing about the game of football. It checks you. There’s nowhere to hide and you work really hard, and as a team we fell short. It’s one of my favorite things about football, is that it’s not for everybody, and this is difficult, but so? We’ve had three games in a row where we’ve finished a game with a different quarterback than we’ve started with. And? I don’t think anybody has the mindset that, well, that’s the reason why we’re losing.

    “We’re fully capable of winning this game. I think that’s obvious to everybody. It’s a simple, simple formula. You look at the tape. You don’t hide from it. And then you move forward and try to use the learning experience to get better in the middle stretch of the season, pushing forward to the end.”

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