Tua forced to Fins’ IR
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve by the Dolphins on Saturday, meaning he will miss at least three games before he can return from fractured ribs.
Tagovailoa had already been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Las Vegas, with Jacoby Brissett set to start for the Dolphins and Reid Sinnett getting promoted from the practice squad in order to serve as the backup.
Tagovailoa will also miss games on Oct. 3 against Indianapolis and Oct. 10 against Tampa Bay, at minimum. The earliest he could return is an Oct. 17 game in London against Jacksonville.
He was injured after eight plays in last weekend’s 35-0 loss to Buffalo, leaving after Miami’s second series and not returning. Brissett played the rest of the way in that game.
Initially, the Dolphins thought — or at least hoped — Tagovailoa was dealing with only bruised ribs. Further evaluation showed the fractures, and Brissett said he was told Wednesday that he would be the starter for at least this week at Las Vegas.
“So far this week, I think he’s done a nice job from a preparation standpoint,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Friday of Brissett, who is 12-20 as a starter. “He’s in here, he’s meeting with his teammates, he’s watching the film, asking questions.”
Flores said multiple times this week that Tagovailoa’s condition is improving, though he noted Friday that the team was having conversations and “gathering information” about what to do from a roster-spot standpoint.
By Saturday, the path was apparently clear and the move was made.
STEELERS: Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt won’t play against Cincinnati after all. The team has downgraded Watt to out for Sunday’s visit from Cincinnati. Watt, who is dealing with a groin injury, was listed as questionable on Friday’s injury report.
Watt got hurt in the second quarter of last weekend’s 26-17 loss to Las Vegas. He was limited in practice this week.
Watt’s absence means the Steelers will be without both of their starting outside linebackers on Sunday. Alex Highsmith was already ruled out due to a groin injury.