Bad news for Dolphins fans, Tua Tagovailoa will not be available for the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada for Week 3. Some still don’t know why he won’t be the starting quarterback and in his place will be Jacoby Brissett as QB2 for this matchup. But it is confirmed that Tua Tagovailoa will not be available from Week 3 to Week 6, he will be on the injured reserve list.
Jacoby Brissett replaced Tua Tagovailoa in the game against the Buffalo Bills as the starter suffered a hard sack that left him lying on the ground for a few minutes. Brissett threw 24/40 with 60%, 169 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, 18 yards longest pass, 4.2 yards per attempt and 59.3 overall rate.
Unfortunately that game ended in defeat for the Dolphins, they lost at home 0-35 against the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins won in Week 1 against the New England Patriots 17-16 on the road, that victory was special and there was a good outlook for Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins in the division.
Why won’t Tua Tagovailoa play in Week 3 against Las Vegas Raiders?
The answer about Tua Tagovailoa’s health is simple: multiple fractured ribs. That was the first report released a couple of days before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Nevada for Week 3 of the 2021 NFL season.
The good news is Tua Tagovailoa is healing fast. According to Brian Flores, Dolphins’ head coach, Tua is improving every day but will not be fast enough to play the Raiders in Week 3. Rib fractures usually heal in 4-6 weeks, but in an athlete like Tua Tagovailoa, fractures can heal faster.
After this game against the Raiders, the Dolphins return home to play the Indianapolis Colts, and then they travel to Tampa Bay to play Tom Brady and the Buccaneers. Tua Tagovailoa will not be available until the on the road game in Jacksonville against the Jaguars on October 17, 2021.