CLEVELAND — Surgical procedure just isn’t presently within the plans for Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who missed Sunday’s 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns with a hip harm.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated Tagovailoa suffered the harm towards the Houston Texans in Week 15 and was capable of play by it towards San Francisco final week. Nonetheless, he aggravated the harm on a play vs. the 49ers and it didn’t progress the way in which the workforce had hoped this previous week.

Tagovailoa was restricted in each of Miami’s practices main as much as Sunday’s sport, and he was downgraded to uncertain Saturday.

“You attempt to forecast how issues will heal primarily based upon the one factor that it’s important to work with, which is the earlier week’s forecast,” McDaniel stated. “So, we have been hoping and anticipating for a timeline just like that, and because the week progressed, we did not see the advance we might hoped. … Finally, he completely needed to play. It wasn’t a ache tolerance factor; that was not within the equation for him.

“… The principle factor was that he not solely was tremendous vulnerable to a way more important harm primarily based upon that harm, if he have been to fall in hurt’s manner, however a significant factor was the dearth of energy because of the harm and his lack of ability as we forecast to guard himself and his teammates throughout the pocket doing the issues that he usually has to do.”

After taking part in all 18 video games in 2023, Tagovailoa has now missed a career-high 5 regular-season video games this 12 months. McDaniel stated that whereas surgical procedure is not presently deemed obligatory, he has “no concept” whether or not Tagovailoa will play within the regular-season finale subsequent weekend towards the New York Jets.

The Dolphins coach did affirm that Tagovailoa’s hip harm was not associated to the compound fracture he suffered throughout his remaining season at Alabama in 2019.

Tagovailoa informed reporters Thursday that his injured hip felt “good,” and he described the problem as typical put on and tear at this level of the season. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell stated the quarterback informed him Thursday that the workforce must “pull me out the sport” and that he deliberate to play towards the Browns.

Campbell, nonetheless, stated he may inform, primarily based on Tagovailoa reps at Friday’s observe, that the quarterback was unlikely to play.

Backup Tyler Huntley began towards the Browns and accomplished 22 of 26 passes for 225 yards and a landing whereas dashing for a further 53 yards and a TD.

In his fourth begin of the season, Huntley stated he is extra snug on this offense now that he has spent three months in it.

“I really know what the motions are, and I’ve acquired an excellent really feel of the performs proper now,” Huntley stated. “So, yeah, a pair weeks within the offense, it undoubtedly makes a distinction.”

The Dolphins returned to a .500 document for the primary time since Week 2. They’ll earn a 3rd straight playoff berth subsequent week with a win over the Jets and a Denver Broncos loss to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs, who clinched the AFC’s prime seed and are more likely to relaxation their starters.

Campbell, a Colorado native, joked that he’d be a “enormous Chiefs fan” for the primary time in his life. He stated the Dolphins may win video games with the way in which Huntley performed Sunday.

“It is by no means over till it is over,” Campbell stated. “There’s at all times alternative and who is aware of — I imply it won’t occur. That is a part of it. However we have to go on the market within the ballpark and if it does occur, look out.

“We coming.”