Tua knocked out early; status for Raiders game up in the air
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa never saw it coming.
And now, the Miami Dolphins aren’t sure when they’ll see their starting quarterback play again.
Tagovailoa was carted off the sideline during the first quarter of Sunday’s 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills (1-1) with a rib injury, getting knocked out in the second series. The Dolphins (1-1) initially said he was questionable to return, then ruled him out, and now will wait to find out what doctors say about his availability going forward.
The Dolphins face the Raiders on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.
“We’re getting some tests run,” Miami coach
Brian Flores said after the game. “Don’t know the severity of the injury right now. We’re going to run some tests tonight and tomorrow morning and hopefully have a little bit more information.”
Tagovailoa was hit by Buffalo’s A.J. Epenesa on the final play of Miami’s second series. The Dolphins went for it on fourth-and-2 from near midfield. Epenesa was completely unblocked as Tagovailoa dropped back and drove the quarterback to the turf as he threw.
Tagovailoa remained down for a moment, grimacing and grabbing at his left side. He could barely walk — it was more like a slow shuffle — to the sideline. The cart was waiting to take him off the field and to the locker room area for evaluation, and Tagovailoa wasn’t seen again.
Tagovailoa was sacked twice on Miami’s first series, then took the big hit from Epenesa in the next series. Jacoby Brissett replaced him at quarterback, finishing 24 of 40 passing for 169 yards with one interception.
“Thinking about him right now,” Brissett said of Tagovailoa. “I don’t want this to sound bad, but it’s part of the game, just being ready to go. My number was called. It wasn’t my first time in this situation.”
Tagovailoa’s diagnosis will determine what Miami does next. Tagovailoa and Brissett are the only quarterbacks on the active roster; Reid Sinnett is on the practice squad if the Dolphins choose to make a roster move.
Or they could look elsewhere.
Speculation has swirled since August, at least, regarding the Dolphins’ interest in embattled Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson, who has been accused of sexual assault and harassment in lawsuits filed by 22 women.