Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa returns to practice, remains in concussion protocol

MIAMI GARDENS — Tua Tagovailoa jogged onto the practice field Wednesday for the first time in two weeks, slapped hands with recently signed Reid Sinnett and took his spot in line for warm-ups. A few Dolphins then greeted their quarterback before Jaylen Waddle approached his friend and welcomed him back.

"It's important," Waddle said about having Tagovailoa on the practice field even if he's not expected to play Sunday.

"He brings an energy to our team. It's always good to have our captain, our leader back."

Tagovailoa, who suffered a concussion on Sept. 29 at Cincinnati, was cleared to throw and do some individual work, the first step toward returning to game action. But with Tagovailoa and backup Teddy Bridgewater still in concussion protocol Wednesday, rookie Skylar Thompson is likely to receive his first NFL start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

"I can say with certainty he is not playing this Sunday," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said about Tagovailoa.

Bridgewater, who started in Tagovailoa's place Sunday, was knocked out of the Dolphins' 40-17 loss at the Jets on the team's first offensive play. Bridgewater's head was slammed to the turf when he was hit in the end zone. He missed the rest of the game after the NFL-assigned spotter believed he saw Bridgewater stumble.

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Thompson, the seventh-round draft pick from Kansas State, made his NFL debut on the next series and played the rest of the game.

McDaniel said the team has full confidence that Thompson can help the Dolphins (3-2) snap a two-game losing streak.

"The quarterback's job is to make people better and he's not the run-of-the-mill rookie," McDaniel said. "But it's not just about the quarterback, it's about a collective group of individuals working together, and he's gonna have the opportunity to have all the full speed reps this week because the position that Teddy is in (being) in the protocol."

Bridgewater worked with trainers on Wednesday and will participate in limited activities Thursday. McDaniel said he's "very confident that he'll ... be active for the game and be backing up Skylar."

Tagovailoa was initially injured on Sept. 25 against Buffalo and has been in concussion protocol after being injured again on Sept. 29 at Cincinnati.

"This whole process is a little tricky," McDaniel said. "He's just getting back to playing football for the first time in two weeks. He hasn't been on the field playing football in two weeks."

McDaniel would not commit to Tagovailoa being ready to return for the Oct. 23 Sunday night home game against Pittsburgh if he is cleared this week.

"As far as his exact timeline of when he's going to play, I'll be excited to consider that whenever that comes up," McDaniel said. "Right now, I'm just really focused on him getting out there and feeling good and being around his teammates."

The biggest decision come Sunday may be whether to activate Sinnett and carry three quarterbacks. Sinnett was signed to the practice squad last week.

Sinnett entered the league in 2020 as an undrafted free agent with the Buccaneers. He then spent time with the Dolphins.

"There's a lot of moving pieces," McDaniel said. "With all the guys that really strain to make it on game day with all of our bumps and bruises, that compounds that whole decision a little bit. So you end up having to take the week to kind of process everything."

Activating a third quarterback means one less player at a different position.

"You have to assess where that comes from, what groups can afford that," McDaniel said. "So there's a lot of different variables that go into that equation."

Thompson, who was 19 of 33 for 166 yards and one interception against the Jets, spoke Sunday about the whirlwind of the past few weeks going from the inactive list, to the third-string quarterback at Cincinnati, to the backup entering Sunday, to making his debut one play into the game against the Jets.

Now, he's preparing to make his first start.

"It's exciting," he said Wednesday. "It's a dream come true. Something I've worked for my whole life."

The most positive news of the day was cornerback Xavien Howard declaring himself fit after missing the Jets game with a groin injury. Howard, who warmed up Sunday before he was ruled out, returned to practice Monday, as did receiver Tyreek Hill, who left Sunday's game late with a foot injury. Hill was wearing a walking boot on his left foot following the game.

Offensive tackle Terron Armstead, who left Sunday's game after reaggravating a foot injury, did not practice. McDaniel said the team is taking Armstead's injury day by day.

Tom D'Angelo is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him attdangelo@pbpost.com. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa practicing; won't play vs. Vikings