Dolphins injury updates: Will Tua Tagovailoa play against the Bills?

For the first time since 2016, the Miami Dolphins are heading to the playoffs but they’ve got quite a long road ahead of them.

After failing to claim the AFC East title, the Dolphins enter the playoffs via one of three wild card spots which means they’ll be hitting the road during Super Wild Card Weekend. Only a few teams now stand in the way of the team’s path to making it back to the Super Bowl in nearly three decades.

The Dolphins’ journey begins today as they head to Buffalo to face off against their division rivals, the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are one of the strongest teams in the league this season and are playing for more than just the chance to make it into the Super Bowl, so the Dolphins will need all the help they can get as they prepare to face off against the Bills.

Tua Tagovailoa has been sidelined for a few weeks now, but could the Miami quarterback finally return in time for the Dolphins’ playoff game today?

Will Tua Tagovailoa play in the Dolphins game today? (January 15)

Although there had been hope that Tua Tagovailoa might be cleared to play against the Buffalo Bills, Tagovailoa has been ruled out for today’s game and will not suit up for the Dolphins’ Wild Card Weekend game. With Tagovailoa and his backup, Teddy Bridgewater, both out for the game, the Dolphins will have to look to third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson to lead the team in its Wild Card game on Sunday.

When will Tua Tagovailoa return as starter?

At this time, no exact return date has been set for Tua Tagovailoa and it is very likely he’s played his last snap for the season. Should the Dolphins make it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs next week, Tagovailoa will again enter the week with a questionable status as the quarterback continues to recover from the concussion he suffered against the Green Bay Packers in Week 16.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel revealed to reporters that the team is currently taking  Tagovailoa’s health “day by day. And I will not think about any game — whether this year or next year — until he’s fully ready. And that will require medical clearance.”

If the Dolphins lose to the Bills, the team will be eliminated from the playoffs and the question of Tagovailoa’s return will end. However, if they pull off the upset and beat the Bills on Sunday, Tagovailoa’s return will remain up in the air likely until just before the team’ Divisional Round game.