San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Dolphins QB Tagovailoa on IR with fractured ribs
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve by the Miami 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 — that 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.
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.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins also announced Saturday that linebackers coach Anthony Campanile
will not be with the team in Las Vegas because of COVID-19 protocols.
Chargers’ Jones will miss game
Chargers defensive lineman Justin Jones will miss his second straight game after being downgraded to out for Sunday’s game at the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jones suffered a calf injury in Los Angeles’ 20-16 win over Washington on Sept. 12 and has not practiced the last two weeks. Christian Covington is expected to get the start in Jones’ place.
Packers’ Jenkins downgraded
Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers due to an ankle injury.
Jenkins got hurt during Monday night’s 35-17 victory over the Detroit Lions, though he remained in the game. After listing him as
doubtful on Friday’s injury report, the Packers (1-1) announced Saturday that Jenkins wasn’t making the trip to San Francisco.
The Packers also announced that tight end Dominique Dafney won’t play against the 49ers (2-0) due to a hip injury. The Packers placed Dafney on injured reserve, meaning he must miss at least the next three games.
Jenkins was a Pro Bowl left guard last season, but he has been filling in at left tackle for injured All-Pro David Bakhtiari, who hasn’t played since tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament on Dec. 31. Bakhtiari is on the physically unable to perform list and will miss at least the first six games of the season.
The Packers haven’t indicated how they might shuffle their line without Jenkins. Options include putting Dennis Kelly or Yosh Nijman at left tackle, or perhaps shifting right tackle Billy Turner to the left side and putting Kelly in Turner’s usual spot.