Dec 29, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley (18) throws a pass during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Dolphins preparing QB Tyler Huntley to start vs. Jets

The Miami Dolphins are preparing quarterback Tyler Huntley to start Sunday’s critical matchup at the New York Jets in place of Tua Tagovailoa, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Wednesday.

However, McDaniel said if Tagovailoa is medically cleared and has seen enough improvement in his injured hip, the team is comfortable switching to start him in Sunday’s must-win game.

Tagovailoa will be limited in practice Wednesday. He initially injured his hip against the Houston Texans on Dec. 15 and absorbed another hit versus the San Francisco 49ers a week later. He missed last week’s 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns, which kept the Dolphins (8-8) in contention for a playoff spot.

Huntley, 26, has started four games this season, completed 61 of 92 passes (66.3 percent) for 602 yards, two TDs and one pick. He also ran 23 times for 119 yards and two scores.

Tagovailoa already has missed five games this season because of a concussion while starting the other 11. He has completed 291 of 399 passes (league-best 72.9 percent) for 2,867 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Sep 30, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the Tennessee Titans at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Patriots, Dolphins both looking to turn things around

Changes could be coming for the Miami Dolphins as they prepare to face the New England Patriots on Sunday in Foxborough, Mass.

Miami (1-3) has been feeling the loss of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa over the past two weeks, getting outscored 55-15 in losses to the Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans.

With Tagovailoa on injured reserve because of a concussion sustained in a Week 2 setback against the Buffalo Bills, Tyler Huntley started under center against Tennessee on Monday. He threw for just 96 yards on 14-of-22 passing as the Dolphins fell 31-12.

Even though Miami beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-17 in its season opener, it didn’t lead until Jason Sanders booted a 52-yard field goal as time expired. Since then, the Dolphins haven’t been able to get the upper hand on their opponent, making them the first team since the 2017 Cleveland Browns to never hold a lead through the first four games of a season.

“Everything’s on the table,” Miami coach Mike McDaniel said following the loss against the Titans. “You can’t argue that the offense is good. … In a situation like this, I hadn’t really been in one where we haven’t had production consecutively like this.

“So, you really have to open your mind to all things.”

Still, Huntley is expected to draw the start against New England (1-3).

The Dolphins will also have to adjust to life without linebacker Jaelan Phillips, who suffered a season-ending knee injury during Monday’s game.

“I know that my purpose is to inspire people to never give up, no matter how many times you get knocked down,” Phillips said Wednesday in a social media post. “There is nothing in life that you can’t overcome as long as you don’t quit.”

Moving in a different direction offensively is also something that the Patriots are considering.

Lead back Rhamondre Stevenson, who started his season with a promising 120-yard performance on the ground against the Cincinnati Bengals, has been struggling to hang on to the ball. He has one fumble in each of his four games, two of which have been recovered by opposing defenses.

Because of those issues, Antonio Gibson could end up serving as RB1 on Sunday.

“That’s definitely under consideration,” New England coach Jerod Mayo said of moving Gibson up on the depth chart. “I’ve had multiple conversations with Rhamondre. But look, we can’t preach that ball security is job security and still have him out there the majority of the time.

“So, I think it sends a stronger message to the players that there are certain things that we just can’t do to win, especially with the team that we have today.”

Whoever starts at running back will have to get to work behind an offensive line that is now without center David Andrews. The nine-year veteran needs shoulder surgery that will likely sideline him for the rest of the season.

Like Miami, the Patriots have followed a season-opening victory with a three-game losing streak, most recently getting pounded by the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, 30-13. Gibson was New England’s leading receiver, hauling in three catches for 67 yards.

Safeties Kyle Dugger (ankle) and Jabrill Peppers (shoulder) were among those who didn’t practice for New England on Wednesday. Ten players were limited, including receiver Kendrick Bourne (knee), cornerback Jonathan Jones (shoulder) and guard/center Nick Leverett (ankle), Andrews’ replacement.

Dolphins safety Jordan Poyer missed practice on Wednesday due to a shin injury. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller are dealing with concussions and were limited, as was running back Raheem Mostert (chest).

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel discusses Tua Tagovailoa's extension July 28, 2024

Dolphins going ‘day by day’ with Tua; Skylar Thompson to start Week 3

As outside calls for Tua Tagovailoa to reconsider his NFL career grew over the weekend, the Miami Dolphins are taking the injured quarterback’s situation “day by day.”

In practice, that means the Dolphins are holding off on deciding whether Tagovailoa will be placed on injured reserve, as well as signing Tyler Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad to back up Skylar Thompson at quarterback.

Addressing reporters Monday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said there is “not enough information” yet for he and general manager Chris Grier to decide whether Tagovailoa should go on IR, which would require he miss at least four weeks.

After the 26-year-old Tagovailoa suffered the third known concussion of his NFL career — which doesn’t count a concussion at Alabama and another suspected concussion in 2022 — there were calls, including from several former NFL players, for Tagovailoa to consider retiring. NFL Network reported Sunday that Tagovailoa has no plans to retire and has begun meeting with concussion specialists.

As expected, that wasn’t a topic McDaniel wanted to touch.

“I’ll let Tua be the champion of his own career and speak on that,” McDaniel said. It was unclear when Tagovailoa would speak to the media next.

McDaniel was also asked if Tagovailoa is exhibiting symptoms.

“He’s downstairs, smiling with teammates, working with medical staff diligently,” McDaniel said. “He’s doing well today. He’s feeling good. But what does that mean in terms of medical diagnosis? I don’t base my judgments off my interactions with him as much as hearing the end result of the medical examination.”

Tagovailoa suffered the concussion during last Thursday’s loss to the Buffalo Bills. He scrambled for a first down on a fourth-and-4 play in the red zone, but instead of sliding, he collided with Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin, his head making contact with Hamlin’s arm.

Tagovailoa appeared to exhibit a fencing response, but rather than being carted off by ambulance, as he was during a similar sequence in 2022, he was able to leave the field under his own power.

Thompson, the only other quarterback on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster, finished out Thursday’s game. McDaniel said Thompson would be Miami’s starter for Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks, with Huntley signed off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad to back him up.

“He’s game has developed since he’s had a starting opportunity in this league. his teammates can feel his development and growth,” McDaniel said.

Thompson played in seven games, starting two, in 2022 and did not see the field in 2023. He has thrown for 614 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions on a 57.1 completion percentage in his brief NFL career.

Huntley, 26, has started at least one game in each of the past three seasons for the Ravens, filling in for Lamar Jackson. In 20 career games (nine starts) since 2020, Huntley has amassed 1,957 passing yards, eight touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 64.6 completion percentage.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel greets Tyreek hill during warm-ups before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Sept. 25, 2022.

Mike McDaniel: Police incident with Dolphins won’t ‘get swept under the rug’

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel commended his players for their response to Tyreek Hill and Calais Campbell being put in handcuffs hours before their season opener Sunday and vowed the incident with police won’t “get swept under the rug.”

Miami-Dade police stopped Hill’s vehicle about a block away from Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday morning due to a moving violation, and he was briefly detained. Video posted online showed the star receiver placed face-down on the ground by police while handcuffed.

When teammate Campbell — a veteran in his first season with the Dolphins — came by the scene and tried to de-escalate the situation, he too was briefly placed in handcuffs.

Hill was ultimately issued two traffic citations. Miami-Dade police said the officer who made initial contact with Hill was placed on administrative duty while an investigation is conducted.

McDaniel, 41, is biracial, the son of a Black father and White mother. Hill and Campbell are both Black.

“It’s been hard to not find myself more upset the more I think about it,” McDaniel told reporters at his scheduled Monday press conference.

“The thing that (expletive) me up, honestly, to be quite frank, is knowing that I don’t know exactly — I don’t know what that feels like.”

McDaniel said it was “very, very important” to him to let due process run its course, but that the feelings Hill and Campbell expressed to him were “unsettling.”

He added that he feels crushed by “the unknown” and the possibility that the incident was worse than he already knows.

“Simply because of my appearance, I don’t have a history of feeling profiled,” McDaniel said. “For me in particular, I feel pretty helpless at times.”

“But two things did come from the adversity,” he added. “Super proud of teammates being teammates, and super proud of our guys understanding the civic responsibility of a platform.”

Hill made it to the game in time to play and contributed an 80-yard catch-and-run touchdown that launched the Dolphins’ comeback in a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Upon Hill scoring the touchdown, teammate Jaylen Waddle helped him celebrate by grabbing Hill’s wrists behind his back and pretending to place him in handcuffs.

Afterward, Hill told reporters he had “no idea” why he was handcuffed for a moving violation and claimed he was not disrespectful toward the officer.

But the South Florida Police Benevolent Association defended the officer in a statement from president Steadman Stahl on Monday, claiming Hill did not cooperate. Video showed the officer gave Hill less than one second to follow orders before being cursed at.

“First, to be clear, at no time was (Hill) ever under arrest,” the statement read. “He was briefly detained for officer safety, after driving in a manner in which he was putting himself and others in great risk of danger.

“Upon being stopped, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on the scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr. Hill in handcuffs. Mr. Hill, still uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore redirected to the ground.”

Police have yet to release official bodycam video, and McDaniel said he would let the process play out.

Still, he was on edge, ready to defend his players.

“This is too much under the spotlight to get swept under the rug,” McDaniel said.

–Field Level Media

Aug 23, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA;  Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Dolphins sign coach Mike McDaniel to extension

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel has signed a multiyear contract extension through the 2028 season, multiple outlets reported Friday.

Financial terms were not revealed.

McDaniel, 41, assumed the job before the 2022 season, signing a four-year contract as he took over for the fired Brian Flores. It was the first head-coaching job for McDaniel, who was the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers when the Dolphins lured him away.

In two seasons under McDaniel, the Dolphins have posted 9-8 and 11-6 records, earning playoff berths both seasons. They lost to the Buffalo Bills in the wild-card round after the 2022 season and to the Kansas City Chiefs last season as a wild card.

Last season, the Dolphins ranked No. 1 in total offense and passing offense and No. 2 in scoring offense.

The Dolphins, who recently signed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to an extension, are expected to vie with the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets for the AFC East title. Miami opens the season at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8.

–Field Level Media

October 4, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight ends/assistant head coach Jon Embree during the fourth quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Dolphins assistant to coach team for half of preseason finale

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is turning over the team to an assistant coach for the second half of Friday’s preseason finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, CBS Miami reported.

The move is a trial run for Jon Embree, the team’s assistant head/tight ends coach, who would serve as head coach should McDaniel need to miss a game for an illness or any other reason, per the report.

McDaniel is expected to call the offensive plays throughout the game.

Embree, in his 33rd season of coaching, joined the Dolphins staff in 2022 when McDaniel was hired away from the 49ers. The two worked together in San Francisco.

Embree, 58, served as the head coach at Colorado, his alma mater, from 2011-12. He was fired after posting a 4-21 record.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel greets Tyreek Hill during warm-ups before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Sept. 25, 2022.

Dolphins coach: Won’t risk further injury to Tyreek Hill

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel says concern about star receiver Tyreek Hill’s injury status goes beyond Sunday’s game against the New York Jets.

Hill, who leads the NFL with 1,542 receiving yards and 12 touchdown catches, sustained a left ankle injury in Monday night’s loss to the Tennessee Titans.

The Dolphins did not practice on Wednesday, but McDaniel estimated that Hill would not have participated if it had been a normal session.

“He’s such an important part of our team that we’re going to make sure that when he’s on the field, he’s not at risk of further injury to himself,” McDaniel said Thursday, per the Miami Herald.

The Dolphins (9-4) are one game behind the Baltimore Ravens in the race for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

Miami could consider keeping Hill on the sidelines against the visiting Jets (5-8), even if it means harming his quest to become the NFL’s first 2,000-yard receiver. Having a healthy Hill for the stretch run and the postseason would almost assuredly outweigh the record chase.

The Dolphins have a grueling schedule after the Jets, hosting the Dallas Cowboys (10-3) in Week 16, visiting the Ravens (10-3) in Week 17 and hosting the Buffalo Bills (7-6) in the Jan. 7 regular season finale.

Hill, 29, is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and four-time All-Pro with 695 catches for 9,882 yards and 75 touchdowns in 121 games (103 starts) with the Kansas City Chiefs (2016-21) and Dolphins.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is pursued by Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Josh Tupou (68) in the second quarter of the NFL Week 4 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Miami Dolphins at PayCor Stadium in downtown on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022. The Bengals 14-12 at halftime.Miami Dolphins At Cincinnati Bengals Week 4

Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa learns from concussion experience

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa admitted Wednesday that he doesn’t remember much about sustaining a concussion during his team’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals late last month.

Tagovailoa acknowledged that he remembered being taken down by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou during that game on Sept. 29. His memory of the night’s events gets a bit hazier from there, he said.

“There was a point I was unconscious,” Tagovailoa said. “I remember the entire night up until the point I got tackled.

“I don’t remember being carted off. I do remember some things from the ambulance and the hospital.”

Tagovailoa also admitted he learned a great deal about concussions since being sidelined.

“It’s been a process, that’s for sure,” Tagovailoa said. “Having to deal with the interviews with the NFL and NFLPA, and then having to go see doctors outside with second opinions, a lot of it has been pretty stressful, but all of it is done for player safety, and I’m glad that I got to go through those things to understand more of the deals of concussions and the facts, long-term, short-term things like that.”

Tagovailoa has sat out Miami’s last two games — both losses. He cleared concussion protocol last week and is in line to start Sunday night’s game against the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4).

Coach Mike McDaniel credited Tagovailoa’s determination as a means to get back under center for the Dolphins (3-3).

“He’s laser focused. He’s in his normal mood, but he doesn’t lose attention span at the task at hand,” McDaniel said. “And that’s what I’ve grown to love about the guy. That’s why he’s been able to have some success in a completely new language and system.”

Tagovailoa, 24, led Miami to a 3-0 start this season and has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 1,035 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

“How does it feel? It feels great. I’m excited to be back,” Tagovailoa said.

–Field Level Media

Sep 29, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Josh Tupou (68) sacks Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) in the second quarter at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Tagovailoa sustained a head injury on the play and left the game for treatment. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

Specialists assist Dolphins in latest Tua Tagovailoa assessment

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is seeing “several outside specialists” as he continues to cope with a concussion sustained in Week 4 against the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday.

McDaniel said the team is still gathering information about the third-year quarterback’s condition and isn’t ready — yet — to put him on injured reserve. Placement on the list would require him to miss at least four games, and McDaniel said Tagovailoa would not go on the IR “today or tomorrow.”

Tagovailoa will not travel north for Sunday’s game at the New York Jets. Veteran Teddy Bridgewater will start, with rookie Skylar Thompson backing him up.

The Dolphins set off a firestorm when Tagovailoa was allowed back in the game in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills after he appeared to sustain a head injury, but the Dolphins later said he hurt his back. Since then, the doctor who cleared Tagovailoa to return to that game was fired by the NFL Players Association.

Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, said last week that Tagovailoa was checked for concussion symptoms every day between the games against the Bills and Bengals before an independent neurologist cleared him to take the field on Sept. 29 in Cincinnati.

The 24-year-old quarterback hit his head on the turf while being sacked by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou. Tagovailoa remained on the ground for roughly 12 minutes before he was carted off the field on a stretcher and eventually taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with a concussion and neck injury.

Since then, the NFL and the players association agreed on a revised concussion protocol.

In relief of Tagovailoa in Cincinnati, Bridgewater was 14-for-23 passing for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the 27-15 loss.

–Field Level Media

Mar 2, 2022; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Mike McDaniel calls Tom Brady speculation ‘fake news’

New Miami coach Mike McDaniel invoked the phrase “fake news” Monday regarding the rumor mill about a possible trade of Tom Brady to the Dolphins.

McDaniel made the comments at the annual NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. A report out of a radio station in Boston last week set afire to the rumors, which led to McDaniel being asked about it Monday.

“The Tampa Bay Bucs quarterback?? That’s what do you call it … fake news,” McDaniel said.

Pro Football Talk reported in late February that the Dolphins were pursuing a Sean Payton/Brady package deal after both had announced their respective retirements after the season. However, the team scrapped the idea after Brian Flores filed a lawsuit against the team and the league, per that report.

Brady has since unretired and will be playing for the Buccaneers in 2022. The Dolphins are committed to starter Tua Tagovailoa and backup Teddy Bridgewater.

–Field Level Media