Game recap: Minnesota Vikings beat Miami Dolphins as injury woes continue

MIAMI GARDENS — Rookie Skylar Thompson made his first NFL start Sunday afternoon when the Dolphins play host to the Minnesota Vikings.

Thompson, 25, was called upon because Miami's top two quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, have been in concussion protocol.

Thompson was pressed into duty after just one offensive snap by Bridgewater last week. Bridgewater was judged to have possibly suffered a concussion and was removed from the game against the New York Jets. The Dolphins lost 40-17 for their second consecutive defeat, dropping them to 3-2.

The Vikings entered at 4-1.

The Vikings are a rare opponent for Miami, trailing the series 7-5, but won the most recent meeting 41-17 in Minneapolis in 2018.

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4 p.m. | Jaylen Waddle returns after injury

Jaylen Waddle suffered an upper-body injury at the end of a long play that moved the Dolphins into Minnesota territory.

He returned to the game and helped Miami find the end zone as Bridgewater hit Gesicki in the back of the end zone for his second touchdown. It was a 6-play, 83-yard drive in just 1:13 of game time.

After the failed two-point conversion, Miami's deficit is now 24-16 with 1:24 remaining.

The Dolphins failed to recover the onside kick. Miami has no timeouts remaining and Minnesota can run

3:47 p.m. | Jaylen Waddle fumble ends drive, Dalvin Cook breaks free

A promising Dolphins drive ends with a costly Jaylen Waddle fumble, which was recovered by Minnesota safety Camryn Bynum.

Minnesota had the midfield just shy of midfield, leading the Dolphins 16-10 with 3:38 left in the fourth quarter.

Vikings running back Dalvin Cook then broke a 53-yard touchdown run which is sending Dolphins fans to the exits. Minnesota leads 24-10 after the two-point conversion. There's 3:15 remaining in the fourth quarter.

3:45 p.m. | Tyreek Hill converts fourth down, Dolphins driving

The Dolphins are on the move after Teddy Bridgewater connected with Tyreek Hill for a fourth-down conversion.

Miami has the ball in Minnesota territory with 5:21 remaining. The Vikings are clinging to a 16-10 lead.

3:30 p.m. | Mike Gesicki grabs touchdown

The Dolphins aren't going away just yet. Mike Gesicki grabbed a 4-yard touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater to pull Miami within a score.

The Vikings lead is now 16-10 with 10:04 left in the game.

3:25 p.m. | Adam Thielen touchdown gives Vikings cushion

Kirk Cousins hit Adam Thielen in the back of the end zone for a short touchdown pass that expanded Minnesota's lead to 16-3 over the Dolphins. Greg Joseph missed the extra point.

3:20 p.m. | Vikings lead Dolphins entering fourth quarter

The Vikings lead the Dolphins 10-3 after three quarters of football in Hard Rock Stadium.

Justin Jefferson has six catches for 107 yards, including a big play at the end of the third quarter which moved Minnesota inside the Miami 10-yard line.

3:01 p.m. | Tyreek Hill leaves field with cramps

Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill left the field with cramping according to the team. He returned for the Dolphins next offensive drive, which ended in a punt.

Minnesota leads Miami 10-3 with 7:29 left in the third quarter.

2:56 p.m. | Dolphins offense slow to start second half

The Dolphins failed to convert a fake punt in their own territory on the opening drive of the second half. The Miami defense stood tall, however, and pushed Minnesota back out of field goal range on the ensuing possession.

Bridgewater and the Dolphins offense managed just three plays on the ensuing drive as the Vikings defensive front recorded a third-down sack.

Minnesota leads Miami 10-3 with 9:24 left in the third quarter.

2:20 p.m. | Vikings lead Dolphins 10-3 at halftime

After the Dolphins forced a punt, Minnesota Vikings cornerback Harrison Smith intercepted Bridgewater moments before halftime. Bridgewater's pass was intended for Jaylen Waddle but was deflected and juggled among two defenders.

The Vikings capitalized on the turnover with a 32-yard field goal. Minnesota leads Miami 10-3 at halftime in Miami Gardens.

2:12 p.m. | Jason Sanders misses field goal wide right

Jason Sanders' 52-yard field goal misses wide right as Bridgewater and the Dolphins come up empty late in the second quarter.

The Vikings take over at the 42-yard line with 1:40 left until halftime.

2:12 p.m. | Vikings take lead on first sustained drive

The Vikings offense is officially in gear after a long-scoring drive which ended with a short Kirk Cousins touchdown pass to Irv Smith Jr.

Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson saw his first action on the drive, catching two passes for 42 yards. A roughing the passer call on Christian Wilkins helped bring Minnesota to the goal line after a 22-yard pass to Jefferson.

The Vikings lead the Dolphins 7-3 with 2:32 remaining to halftime.

Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham suffered an ankle injury on the drive and has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game.

1:55 p.m. | Teddy Bridgewater replaces Skylar Thompson after thumb injury

Miami Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson was taken to the locker room and replaced by Teddy Bridgewater early in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings in Hard Rock Stadium.

Thompson was taken to the ground by two Vikings defenders on third down and escorted off the field by team personnel after the Miami punt. He is considered questionable to return with a right thumb injury.

Teddy Bridgewater, who was knocked out of Miami's last game at the New York Jets on the Dolphins' first offensive snap, is in at quarterback for the Dolphins' fourth offensive drive.

Bridgewater led Miami to a 44-yard Jason Sanders field goal to score the afternoon's first points. Dolphins lead Minnesota 3-0 with 6:05 left to halftime.

1:32 p.m. | Penalties knock Dolphins out of field goal range

The Dolphins suffered five penalties on a promising drive and were forced into another Thomas Morestead punt, which tumbled into the end zone.

Dolphins fans are incredulous after calls for false start, ineligible man downfield, offensive pass interference and two holding penalties brought back big offensive plays for Miami.

The Vikings and Dolphins are scoreless after the first quarter.

1:24 p.m. | Dolphins defense forces a pair of punts

The Dolphins came within seconds of taking down Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins for a safety on Minnesota's second drive, but the veteran quarterback just managed to unload the ball for an incompletion.

Skylar Thompson is back out to lead the Dolphins offense for his second drive of the game. The Dolphins moved into Vikings territory on the first drive, but a third-down sack ultimately knocked Miami out of field goal range.

1 p.m. | Dolphins win the toss, defer

The Minnesota Vikings called tails and failed. The Dolphins won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half. Kirk Cousins and the Vikings offense are set for the game's first possession.

12:40 p.m. | Dolphins, Vikings nearing kickoff

The Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins have left the field after pre-game warmups.

A large contingent of Vikings fans are in Miami this afternoon, mostly on the sunny, visitors side of Hard Rock Stadium.

12:01 p.m. | Dolphins going for 500th win in team history

The Miami Dolphins have 499 wins in team history, including the postseason. A win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday would make the Dolphins the seventh NFL franchise with 500 wins since 1966 — the team's inaugural season.

11:30 a.m. | Dolphins inactives: Miami without Terron Armstead and Durham Smythe; Teddy Bridgewater backs up Skylar Thompson

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead, who has endured a lingering toe injury, is inactive today. Cornerback Kader Kohou, who had been doubtful with an oblique injury, is another regular the Dolphins will be missing against the Vikings.

As expected, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was just cleared from concussion protocol, nevertheless is inactive. Rookie Skylar Thompson will start, backed up by Teddy Bridgewater, who too cleared concussion protocol.

With right tackle Austin Jackson still on the physically unable to perform list, the Dolphins will be without both starting tackles. And the line won't get help from blocking tight end Durham Smythe because he's inactive with a hamstring problem.

The full list of inactives for both teams:

MIAMI DOLPHINS

#1 QB Tua Tagovailoa

#3 RB Myles Gaskin

#18 WR Erik Ezukanma

#28 CB Kader Kohou

#72 T Terron Armstead

#77 DT John Jenkins

#81 TE Durham Smythe

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

#25 S Theo Jackson

#62 G/C Chris Reed

#63 T Vederian Lowe

#90 DL Esezi Otomewo

#95 DL Khyiris Tonga

#98 OLB D.J. Wonnum

What time is the Dolphins game today?

Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

When: 1 p.m. Sunday, October 16

What channel is the Dolphins game on?

TV: Fox (in local markets), YouTube TV (2-week free trial), Hulu + Live TV (7-day free trial), fuboTV (7-day free trial)

Live stream: NFL Sunday Ticket, NFL+ (7-day free trial)

How can I listen to Miami Dolphins game on radio?

Radio: WQAM 560; SiriusXM Channel 227

Online radio: SiriusXM.com (Channel 819)

What's the latest betting line for Dolphins vs. Vikings?

Minnesota is a 3.5-point favorite over Miami, according to Oddsshark.com, a betting odds aggregator. The over-under is 45.5 points.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins vs. Vikings game recap, score, highlights from NFL Week 6