NY Jets: Tua Tagovailoa listed as questionable for Sunday’s game

The NY Jets could face a Miami Dolphins team without Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday.

The NY Jets are set to see the return of Sam Darnold in Week 12 after their starting quarterback has missed four of the team’s last six games. But their opponents, the Miami Dolphins, might not have the same luck.

The Dolphins could be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa when they meet their division rivals for the second time this year on Sunday.

Tagovailoa injured his left thumb during Wednesday’s practice when he hit it against a helmet. On Thursday, head coach Brian Flores didn’t seem to be concerned about the injury.

But on Friday, he sounded much less certain about Tagovailoa’s status for Sunday’s game.

Flores told reporters that he would need to watch the film first before determining whether Tagovailoa can play or not. As of now, the Dolphins have him listed as questionable for Sunday.

The 22-year-old rookie quarterback made his NFL debut back in the teams’ first meeting in Week 6 completing two passes for nine yards. Two weeks later, he was given the start against the Los Angeles Rams.

Tagovailoa has started four games this season throwing for 602 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. For the most part, things have gone well for the former Alabama star, but he encountered a bit of a hiccup this past week.

The NY Jets are facing a Miami Dolphins team coming off a loss in Week 11

The Dolphins decided to bench Tagovailoa in the fourth quarter for what Flores described as “performance reasons.” He wasn’t playing terrible, but Miami evidently believed that veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick gave them a better shot to win a crucial game.

Fitzpatrick would throw a game-sealing fourth-quarter interception to ultimately lose the game for his team in typical Ryan Fitzpatrick fashion.

Flores did, however, say that Tagovailoa was slated to start this Sunday making his benching a temporary one at that. However, his thumb injury could hold him out regardless.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Jets will see the return of Sam Darnold this Sunday after the former USC standout was held out the last three weeks with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder.

It’s been a rough season for Darnold, but he’ll be looking to get back on track against a talented Dolphins defense in Week 12.

Meanwhile, Tagovailoa’s status is one to keep a close eye on this weekend.