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The Miami Dolphins’ top two quarterbacks, Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, remained in the latter stages of concussion protocol on Friday.
The Dolphins are set to start third-string rookie Skylar Thompson in Sunday’s matchup with the NFC North-leading Minnesota Vikings on Sunday with both Tagovailoa and Bridgewater seen practicing with the team and throwing at Friday’s practice but still in the NFL’s five-step protocol to return to play.
“Right now, they’re still in it,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said ahead of Friday drills. “I just do what I’m told, and one thing that I know for sure is that coaches don’t clear for protocol. … They tell me, and then I react.”
With McDaniel announcing Thompson as the starter against the Vikings on Wednesday, he also deemed Tagovailoa, who suffered a serious concussion in Miami’s Sept. 29 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals, out for Sunday.
Bridgewater, who was not diagnosed with a concussion but still has to clear protocol as if he does have one because of the league’s Saturday revision to the protocol, will back up Thompson should he be cleared on Saturday.
“The plan is, by [Saturday], if Teddy’s not cleared, then we’ll have to elevate [practice squad quarterback] Reid [Sinnett],” McDaniel said. “If Teddy is cleared, he’ll be backup quarterback.”
McDaniel, who is not giving Bridgewater the opportunity to start over Thompson should he clear protocol, reaffirmed on Friday that, with all quarterbacks healthy, Bridgewater remains No. 2 on the depth chart behind Tagovailoa.
“Teddy has been No. 2 from forever,” McDaniel said. “We decided to start Skylar because we knew it was best for the team in terms of having the week to prepare, and all those things. Nothing’s changed, and the team really believes in all three quarterbacks. That’s one thing we’ve been fortunate that we talked about, since preseason, is a luxury to have.”
McDaniel detailed how much Bridgewater has done in practice since first working out on the side on Wednesday and rejoining the team and throwing on Thursday.
“He had a couple reps. He’ll get more [Friday],” McDaniel said. “What he has done is, he’s become one of the most diligent note takers on the entire team. He’s pretty locked in.”
McDaniel was impressed with Bridgewater in a game he plays with quarterbacks during practice. The coach says the formation of plays, which the team has in abundance, and Bridgewater has been guessing the play correctly out of a playbook that McDaniel estimates is 120 plays deep.
“He doesn’t get that much work with the guys,” McDaniel said. “He gets some in a limited capacity, but he’s gotten all the reps he can get mentally.”
This story will be updated.
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