When Miami Dolphins rookie Tua Tagovailoa is healthy and able to return from a left thumb injury, he will return as the team’s starting quarterback.
Tagovailoa, the Dolphins’ No. 5 pick in April’s NFL draft, is considered day to day with the injury that caused him to miss Sunday’s win over the New York Jets.
Coach Brian Flores said Tagovailoa was “close” to being able to play and start. But the Dolphins are proceeding with caution with the injury to the rookie’s throwing hand.
“If he’s healthy, he’s the guy. I don’t know how many different ways we have to say that,” Flores said adamantly after Miami’s 20-3 win against the Jets at MetLife Stadium.
“Again, he’s dealing with something with the hand. We’ll take it day to day. He’s a tough kid and he wants to be out there.”
Tagovailoa’s return could come as early as next week when Miami hosts the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 6 at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins hope the swelling and soreness Tagovailoa is experiencing can subside from the injury he suffered during Dolphins practice last Wednesday.
Tagovailoa was a limited participant in all three practices last week. He was ruled questionable for the Jets game on Friday, before the Dolphins downgraded him to doubtful on Saturday and made him inactive for the Jets game before kickoff Sunday.
Longtime NFL veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick made the start in place of Tagovailoa, throwing for 257 yards and two touchdowns to help the Dolphins win their sixth game in the past seven contests.
The NFL Network reported Sunday morning that Tagovailoa could see a “multi-game absence, but there is no way of telling” before he returns to practice next week.
Flores hinted more toward the day-to-day nature of Tagovailoa’s injury than the rookie missing any extended time.
“It was very close to him being able to go, but we got to make good decisions for him as well,” Flores said of Tagovailoa. “We’ll see how he does over the course of practice this week.”
Gesicki goes wild
Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki has a penchant for enjoying himself with a celebration after his touchdown catches.
And his 13-yard reception on a jump-ball pass from Fitzpatrick saw perhaps his most excited celebration yet.
Gesicki, a third-year Dolphin and New Jersey native, scored his first touchdown in his sixth career game at MetLife Stadium.
The former Penn State standout was unable to score a touchdown in two games against Rutgers, and his first three games with Miami since being their second-round pick in 2017.
“You would’ve thought I scored the game-winning touchdown at the Super Bowl because I was so excited,” Gesicki said.
Defensive streak continues
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard and nickel defensive back Nik Needham each had an interception of Jets quarterback Sam Darnold during the win.
Howard extended his NFL lead with his seventh interception of the season, while Needham secured his third career interception since joining Miami’s rebuild as an undrafted rookie last season.
“It’s inspiring. The way he gets his hands on the ball, he would have 12. He’ll drop one and pick one,” Needham said of Howard after the game. “It just pushes me every day. He’s a great player.”
The interception also marked 17 consecutive games in which the Dolphins forced a turnover, the NFL’s longest-active streak.
A look at the run game
Matt Breida, who earned the start, and Patrick Laird both fumbled the football on consecutive drives in the third quarter against the Jets.
With rookie Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) inactive and leading rusher Myles Gaskin (knee) not activated from injured reserve to the active roster before the Jets game, the Dolphins’ contributions in the run game were limited until newcomer DeAndre Washington finished the game in the fourth quarter.
Washington, acquired at the trade deadline from the Kansas City Chiefs, made his team debut finishing with 49 yards on 13 carries, with two receptions for 11 yards.
Breida finished with 36 yards on eight carries and two catches for 17 yards, while Laird only had a 9-yard run.
Other news and notes
— With kicks of 54 and 51 yards in the first half, Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders extended the NFL’s longest-active streak for made field goals from at least 50 yards during the game.
— Dolphins tight end Durham Smythe tied his career high with three receptions from Fitzpatrick in the first quarter.
— Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, Miami’s first-round pick in 2019, started for Miami in his first game back from a two-game absence while on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
— Rookie Malcolm Perry sustained a chest injury in the first half and did not return.
— Tagovailoa, Ahmed, rookie right guard Solomon Kindley (foot), fullback Chandler Cox and rookie defensive tackle Benito Jones were inactive for Miami.
