Fitzpatrick ‘fighting through’ injuries
Shoulder, elbow issues haven’t prevented QB from playing
Miami Dolphins veteran quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick is “fighting through” a lingering injury to his throwing arm, coach Brian Flores said Thursday.
Despite appearing on the team’s injury report the last three weeks, Fitzpatrick has been able to participate in practice and play in games.
Flores said he expects Fitzpatrick, who is dealing with right shoulder and right forearm injuries, to start in Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Hard Rock Stadium.
“You play quarterback in this league and take a few hits. You get dinged. We have to report the injuries so they’re on there,” Flores said.
“He’s practiced. He’s fought through it. He’s fighting through it in practice and games, so he’ll be out there,” he said
Fitzpatrick was a in practice on and Thursday.
He first appeared on the injury report with a right shoulder injury in Week 11 before the Buffalo Bills game. One week later ahead of the Cleveland Browns game, he was also listed on the injury report with a right elbow injury and had his practice reduced to a limited participant.
Fitzpatrick has completed 62 percent of his passes for 1,901 yards, with 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 games. He also has three rushing touchdowns, tying running back Kalen Ballage for the team lead.
With five games left, Flores is hopeful Fitzpatrick can remain healthy enough to continue playing and producing for the Dolphins offense.
The Dolphins could also choose to start backup Josh Rosen at some point in the final stretch to relieve Fitzpatrick, and get another on-field, in-game full participant Wednesday evaluation of the second-year quarterback they traded for earlier this year.
Rosen has completed 53.2 percent of his passes for 567 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions in six games, including three starts.
Other injuries
Flores said wide receiver Albert Wilson made some progress in practice after a chest injury forced him to leave last week’s game against the Browns.
“He’s still working through some things and obviously he was limited,” Flores said of Wilson, whose practices were limited on Wednesday and Thursday.
“But, I think, he’s doing everything he can to play Sunday. Hopefully we see him out there.”
Receiver Allen Hurns, a former UM standout dealing with an ankle injury, also was limited at practice for the second straight day on Thursday.
Flores said defensive end Taco Charlton is continuing to progress from a right elbow injury that kept him limited to 15 snaps against the Browns. He has been a full participant in practice this week.
“It was good to get him out there,” Flores said of Charlton. “He did a nice job working his way back. He was playing through some pain so that’s a good thing, and he’s getting better every day. Hopefully, we get him back out there this week and we see some improvement.”
Defensive backs Ryan Lewis (chest), Steven Parker (groin), Ken Webster (ankle) and Ken Crawley (shoulder) were limited participants in practice for the second straight day Thursday.
Running back Kalen Ballage (Achilles) practiced fully for the second straight day despite being listed on the injury report. Linebacker Jerome Baker was listed with a chest injury on Wednesday, but he was not listed on the report with the injury Thursday.
UCF players celebrate after beating USF in