Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is unlikely to play in Sunday’s must-win game against the New York Jets due to a unique hip injury, which is affecting the surrounding muscles and therefore his strength and mobility, along with leaving him vulnerable to further injury, sources say.
It's why Tagovailoa has been unable to gain the medical clearance he seeks to be on the field for a game that could potentially get Miami into the playoffs if the Denver Broncos lose to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
While Tagovailoa has pushed to play when his teammates need him most, sources say, it's not a given the QB would be cleared next week if the Dolphins advance to Wild Card Weekend.
Tagovailoa has not made public details of his injury, though he did say this past week that his general feeling is worse than how he felt a week after he had ankle surgery during his final season at Alabama in 2019. That gives an idea of the severity of pain he is enduring. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said while it's in the same hip he had surgically repaired (also at Alabama in 2019), it's a different injury. But clearly, it's a troubling one.
"I think Tua wishes it was just a pain issue," McDaniel told reporters on Friday, before offering an explanation. "I wouldn't say it's a bruise, but it's kind of a unique muscle issue as a result of the hip."
That unique muscle issue is what presents the concern, as Tagovailoa does risk making the injury far worse by playing before before the swelling subsides and muscle tearing in the area heals. If it was only a pain issue, Tagovailoa made clear he would be playing.
Tagovailoa first suffered the hip injury in Week 15 against the Texans, and the injury worsened the following week against the 49ers, when he sustained contact in the same spot.
Tagovailoa vowed to reporters on Friday that he would play next week if the Dolphins make the playoffs, stating "there's no ifs, ands or buts allowed. I'll be playing." But that is not a sure thing if Miami advances.
Tagovailoa has played in 11 games this season, with one stint on injured reserve after he suffered a concussion in Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills. When he has played, he's impressed with a career-high 72.9 completion percentage and 19 touchdowns against seven interceptions.
The missed games have irked Tagovailoa.
"Obviously the concussions have been a thing and then just off of that, other injuries that have stacked up with the concussions to where I'm missing games," Tagovailoa said on Friday. "It is frustrating. That's something to think about this offseason, that's something to talk with the coaches and essentially it just falls on my plate, just protecting myself better and things that I already know."