Tua out vs. Bills

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel told reporters Wednesday that QB Tua Tagovailoa is out for Sunday's playoff opener against the Bills. Doctors have yet to clear the QB for football activity coming off his latest concussion. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Miami is preparing as though Skylar Thompson will start. That doesn't rule out the possibility of Teddy Bridgewater returning from the finger injury on his throwing hand, but you should prepare as though the rookie will line up behind center. This obviously downgrades Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle for all fantasy football formats.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa admitted that he considered retiring after sustaining multiple concussions last season. “Yeah, I think I considered it, you know, for a time, having sat down with my family, having sat down with my wife and having those kind of conversations,” he said. Tua ultimately opted to keep playing, citing his love for the game and his desire for his son to grow up watching his dad play. He's spent part of this offseason doing jiu-jitsu to "learn how to fall." Tagovailoa explained, "Learned some grappling techniques. Learned some other things too that I don’t think I should disclose. But for the most part, learned how to fall. You think it’s easy. Just don’t fall and hit your head. But a lot more to it.” The head injuries add risk to Tua' short- and long-term fantasy outlooks. But he was excellent last year in his first season under HC Mike McDaniel, ranking 8th among QBs in fantasy points per game.

The Dolphins have picked up QB Tua Tagovailoa’s 5th-year option. In doing so, Miami guarantees his $23.4 million salary for 2024. Essentially, he’s locked in as their short-term starter. Consider Tua-Tyreek Hill and Tua-Jaylen Waddle fine best ball stacks at cost.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa has cleared the concussion protocol after meeting with "several medical professionals," according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "They are confident he’ll be 100% when the time comes for football," Rapoport adds. Tagovailoa sustained 2 concussions -- and appeared to sustain a 3rd -- during the 2022 season, ultimately missing 4 games and most of another. When he was on the field, he scored as a top 10 fantasy QB. It sets him up as 1 of the bigger risk/reward picks at QB in 2023 fantasy drafts.

QB Tua Tagovailoa is expected to return as the Dolphins' starter next season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Tagovailoa suffered 3 -- ahem, 2 -- concussions this season, ultimately missing 4 games and most of another. His play tailed off late in the season, but he finished with a 65% completion rate and big 8.9 yards per attempt. "The Dolphins have been pleased with Tagovailoa's development this season under first-year coach Mike McDaniel," per Schefter, and "medical professionals also are confident that Tagovailoa should be able to resume his NFL career next season, if not sooner."

Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel wouldn't say Monday where QB Tua Tagovailoa is in the concussion protocol but did say that he's seen Tagovailoa "sweating" in workouts. That suggests that Tua is at least in Stage 2 of the 5-stage protocol, giving him a chance to be cleared for Sunday's Wild Card game vs. the Bills. McDaniel said Monday that he'll have game plans for all 3 potential starting QBs, with both Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater (finger) iffy. We'll get Miami's first practice report of the week on Wednesday.