The Miami Dolphins decided quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick will continue to start in Week 5 at the San Francisco 49ers, the team announced Tuesday on Twitter.
So the transition to much-heralded rookie Tua Tagovailoa will have to wait at least one more week.
This update comes just one day after Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Monday that he wouldn’t be pressured into starting Tagovailoa and noted that the QB’s past hip injury remains a factor in the decision.
Fitzpatrick’s grip on the starting job has loosened after up-and-down play over his first four games, and additional rocky performances coupled with losses could lead Flores to officially make the move to Tagovailoa in the weeks ahead.
The 37-year-old Fitzpatrick has started the first four games of the Dolphins’ season, leading the team to a 1-3 record. He’s produced a 69% completion rate, six total touchdowns and five interceptions so far.
He threw for 315 yards and ran for 47 more and a touchdown, along with throwing two interceptions, in Sunday’s 31-23 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Tagovailoa has been active for every game as the No. 2 QB but hasn’t played a snap yet.
Dolphins offensive coordinator Chan Gailey said he is more to blame for the team’s red zone woes against Seattle, and he believes Fitzpatrick can still play very well for them.
The social media announcement is another sign that the Dolphins have been debating the starting quarterback decision and we could be getting closer to Tagovailoa taking over.
Gailey said he imagines Tagovailoa will be “wide-eyed” when he sees his first NFL action given the lack of preseason reps. But he noted that the Dolphins will adjust the game plan to what Tagovailoa is comfortable with if he’s called into action, and “he’s going to be ready when his time comes.”
It has been nearly 11 months since Tagovailoa suffered that devastating hip injury, and Flores says he checked all the medical boxes.
Calls for Tagovailoa to play have only gotten louder after rookie quarterbacks Joe Burrow (Bengals) and Justin Herbert (Chargers) have had early success. It’s not Tua time yet, but that time may not be too far away.