The Miami Dolphins are preparing another week without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in the lineup. 

Per Mike McDaniel on Wednesday, the Dolphins are preparing for Tyler Huntley to draw his second straight start in place of Tua on Sunday against the New York Jets. 

The #Dolphins are preparing for QB Snoop Huntley to start on Sunday against the #Jets, according to coach Mike McDaniel. Tua Tagovailoa will practice on a limited basis, however.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 1, 2025

Tagovailoa was surprisingly downgraded to doubtful the Saturday before last week's 20-3 win over the Cleveland Browns.  He had been listed as questionable after practicing in a limited fashion during the week, so there was no clear sign that he risked being out. 

However, he reportedly injured his hip during the Dolphins games against both Houston and San Francisco. 

"Specifically, Houston he took a shot outside the pocket and then San Franciso the QB hit around the 50-yard line," McDaniel said earlier this week. 

McDaniel further noted that it's up to the medical professionals about when he will give the green light to Tua to play. 

"Well, I think with injuries it’s pretty cut and dry – 100 times out of 100, if someone’s not medically cleared to play, I don’t trump card that. I suppose, on game day, I guess by the letter of the law you could say it’s my final say. My final say is to choose to listen to the medical professionals with their expertise and knowing the pros and cons and that’s the only thing responsible to do with players. And then realistically, those conversations, Chris (Grier) and I get debriefed and sometimes more than other times depending on the injury in question, but that with our medical team and the doctors that are experts in the field, but to play for the Miami Dolphins, you have to have medical clearance to do so and when doctors tell you that a player is not safe to play football, we don’t ever deviate off of that. That would be extremely irresponsible on my part.”

As such, according to McDaniel, it doesn't seem as though there's a chance he'll push Tua to be able to go if the doctors aren't confident he can play without a significant risk of injuring himself further or reaggravating his current hip injury. 

If he doesn't get that clearance by Sunday, Dolphins fans can at least take some solace in knowing that Huntley played far better football last Sunday than he had earlier in the season.  According to him, it was a matter of finally attaining a comfort with the offense.

“Yes I do feel good. I actually feel more comfortable with these plays. So yeah, a couple weeks in the office definitely makes a difference.

“I would say after my third start when I was just able to watch Tua come in during that Arizona game and I was just able to click by seeing how he can take control of the offense.”

We'll find out as the week goes on if the chances of Tua playing change, but as it stands, Miami fans should expect to see Huntley trying to help carry the Dolphins to their third straight playoff appearance on Sunday at MetLife Stadium. 

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