Advertisement
The Miami Dolphins are gearing up to take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season. Currently, the Dolphins hold a record of 2 wins and 4 losses and have been struggling without their starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. He has been out of action since Week 2 after suffering a concussion.
This latest concussion marked at least the third one of Tagovailoa’s career, which he sustained during a game against the Buffalo Bills. He entered concussion protocol and hasn’t cleared it yet as he heads into Week 8. In the meantime, Miami has relied on quarterbacks Skylar Thompson and Tyler Huntley to fill the gap, but unfortunately, they’ve only managed to win 1 out of 4 games since Tagovailoa got hurt.
So, what’s the latest on Tagovailoa’s status for this week? Well, he was back at practice on Wednesday, albeit in a limited capacity, which was a positive sign regarding his recovery. By Thursday, he was able to participate fully in practice. He went through the concussion protocol and consulted with an independent neurological expert, and he has now officially been cleared from those protocols. This means he could potentially be back in action soon.
However, Tagovailoa is still on injured reserve for now, but everything indicates that he will be activated by Saturday.
Interestingly, despite concerns about his health following this latest concussion, top concussion specialists across the country have indicated that they do not believe he needs to retire, which is a common concern whenever a player suffers a serious head injury.
Tagovailoa’s Fantasy Football Outlook
For those who play fantasy football, Tagovailoa’s return looks promising. He faces the Cardinals, whose defense is known for giving up a lot of points to opposing quarterbacks—ranking fourth in allowing fantasy points per game. While there’s always a worry about his health when he gets tackled, he’s worth starting in leagues with 12 or more teams.
If your league is smaller than that, whether you start him might depend on your other options. Still, he’s likely a better choice than players like Caleb Williams, Russell Wilson, or C.J. Stroud, given their tougher matchups.
Dolphins Quarterback Depth Chart
Here’s a quick look at the Dolphins’ quarterback lineup:
- Tua Tagovailoa (IR)
- Tyler “Snoop” Huntley (IR)
- Skylar Thompson
- Tim Boyle
Once Tagovailoa is fully cleared, he’ll reclaim his starting role. Huntley hasn’t been able to match Tagovailoa’s passing skills, and his rushing ability hasn’t helped the team stay competitive. Thompson was the first to step in after Tagovailoa got hurt, but Miami soon brought Huntley in as well.
Update: The Dolphins have now placed Huntley on injured reserve, meaning he’ll miss the next four games. This leaves Thompson as the likely backup to Tagovailoa on Sunday, with Tim Boyle also being brought onto the active roster as an option.
