Tua vs. Burrow becomes TBD vs. Bengals backup

When the NFL calendar was first released shortly after the 2020 NFL draft, many circled Sunday’s game between the Miami Dolphins (7-4) and Cincinnati Bengals (2-8-1) as a game to watch.

It was supposed to be Tua Tagovailoa versus Joe Burrow, a matchup between top-five picks and quarterbacks who dominated college football the previous two seasons.

Instead, it’s up in the air whether the only one of the two quarterbacks who’s available will play in the matchup set for Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Tagovailoa, the Dolphins’

No. 5 pick in April, remains day to day with a left thumb injury, while Burrow, the Bengals’ No. 1 pick, is expected to have reconstructive knee surgery this week after suffering the season-ending injury last month.

Tagovailoa, the former Alabama standout, said he reached out and expressed well-wishes to Burrow, the 2019 Heisman Trophy winner at LSU, after he sustained the knee injury, which resulted in damage to his ACL and MCL.

“Yeah, when I heard about Joe’s injury, I reached out to him,” Tagovailoa said. “Injuries like that, they’re never fun. You never wish that on anybody.

“I got to reach out to him, and I know he’d love to be able to go out there and compete against us. But that’s tough. I sent him my prayers and wished him the best as well.”

As for Tagovailoa, who missed his first game last Sunday since being named starter, he practiced Wednesday with black tape securing his thumb and left wrist on his throwing hand.

If Tagovailoa can eventually practice without limitations later this week (he was limited again Wednesday), he could return as the Dolphins’ starter for the Bengals game. If not, veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick will start for the eighth time this season.

“I’m feeling good,” Tagovailoa said before deflecting a question about his availability for Sunday’s game to Dolphins coach Brian Flores and head athletic trainer Kyle Johnston.

“As a competitor you want to go out there and you want to be able to play. But Flo and our medical staff, they have the best interest for us. And I would say they wouldn’t put me out there if it would be harmful for myself.

“So I’m taking it one day at a time and trusting those guys.”

Tagovailoa suffered the injury after a pass during Dolphins practice last week. It’s unclear whether Tagovailoa’s hand hit the helmet of an offensive player or defensive player during the practice.

Tagovailoa did experience some swelling and was kept out of Miami’s win over the New York Jets last Sunday as a precaution. He was marked doubtful to play the day before the game and questionable to play after the practice week.

“I got my hand dinged up when I tried to make a pass, but yeah, I wanted to play,” Tagovailoa said. “But that was for the best for me, just looking forward for the longevity of everything.

“[I] just don’t want to put myself in danger or put my team at risk as well suffering with my thumb. I’m just taking it one day at a time and trying to get better with everything.

While Tagovailoa won’t face Burrow this season, he did play against No. 6 pick Justin Herbert in the only other matchup between first-round quarterbacks from the 2020 NFL draft this season.

It was one of four wins Tagovailoa has as Dolphins’ starter, with his only loss coming in his last game against the Denver Broncos on Nov. 22.

As Tagovailoa prepares for his fifth career start, the Dolphins sit in sixth place in the AFC playoff picture with five games to go.

The Dolphins will not likely announce a decision on Tagovailoa’s status for the Bengals game until Friday or Saturday, depending on his practice week.

“He’s doing everything he can, and we’ll evaluate it as we go,” Flores said of Tagovailoa.