Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Tua expected to start in London
WARE, England — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to start versus the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday, barring any setback after Friday’s practice, coach Brian Flores said.
Tagovailoa has missed the past three weeks on injured reserve with fractured ribs suffered on Sept. 19 in a 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He was designated to return this week, making him eligible to practice and be activated off IR for Sunday’s game. Tua plans to start for the first time since having his ribs broken with a hit against Buffalo a month ago in the second game of the season.
Tagovailoa participated in two practices at the team’s training facility in Miami Gardens on Wednesday and Thursday before Friday’s session in England.
“I feel good,” Tagovailoa said after practice. “I’m just happy to be out there with the team.”
With backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett handling Dolphins quarterback duties in Tagovailoa’s absence, Miami lost his three starts following the home opener against the Bills — against the Las Vegas Raiders, Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Brissett has also been limited in Dolphins practices this week, recovering from a sore hamstring. He sustained the injury last Sunday in Tampa but played through it to go 27 of 39 for 275 yards, two touchdowns, an interception and a fumble lost in the 45-17 defeat.
The Dolphins (1-4) are looking to snap a four-game losing streak against the winless Jaguars (0-5).
Flores downplayed the idea of Tua being a “savior” for the season, as he was asked by an English reporter.
“We’re excited to have him back,’’ Flores said. “But there’s 53 games on the team — 45 will play [Sunday] … It’s never one person.”
The Dolphins flew into London Stansted Airport, just north of London on Friday morning and bussed two hours north to the a hotel resort near the town of Ware. Sunday’s game is close to London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I don’t think it’s 100 percent pretty, but I’m 100 percent ready to get back on the field,” Tagovailoa said Friday.