Tua Tagovailoa injury update: Latest on Dolphins QB for Week 18, potential playoff run

The Miami Dolphins have been without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa since he was forced to miss Week 17 with a hip injury. That injury came at a vital part of the season for Miami, as the Dolphins are trying to make a playoff push.

Ahead of Miami’s vital season finale against the New York Jets, ESPN’s Adam Schefter shared an update on Tagovailoa’s health.

“The expectation is that Tyler Huntley is going to step in and replace Tua Tagovailoa today, in a game that Dolphins have to have if they’re going to keep (their playoff hopes alive),” Adam Schefter said. “This is a hip injury the same if they had in college. It’s a different kind of injury. He missed last week. It doesn’t look like he’s going to play this week, and if the Dolphins somehow were to advance to the playoffs, Tua has maintained that he thinks he can come back and play, but that obviously still is to be determined.”

Tyler Huntley previously replaced Tua Tagovailoa last week in what was also a must-win game for Miami. In that matchup against Cleveland, Huntley played well, throwing for 225 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 52 yards and another score to cap off the win.

Now sitting at 8-8, Miami is on the edge of the AFC playoff picture. To get in, the Dolphins are going to need a win over the Jets and some help from the Kansas City Chiefs, who are playing the 9-7 Denver Broncos. However, the Chiefs are expected to rest their starters. Still, without a win, that game won’t matter to Miami.

For Tua Tagovailoa, this is the second time this season he’s missed time with an injury as his injury issues have continued to add up.

Going back to his time in college with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Tua Tagovailoa has had injury concerns. The most notable of those concerns have been related to his history of concussions. In fact, it was another concussion that he missed time with earlier in 2024. While at Alabama, he also suffered a dislocated hip and subsequently suffered injuries to his ribs, hands, shoulder, and ankle.

Now, Tagovailoa is going to be hoping that his team is able to make it to the playoffs so that he can step in and assist for that run.