Team news: Miami Dolphins | Page 30

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said after Miami’s loss to the Broncos that, despite being benched, Tua Tagovailoa will remain the starting quarterback.

Tua was sacked a whopping six times before Miami sat him. Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t much better, going 12/18 for 117 yards and a killer interception at the end of the game to end Miami’s five-game winning streak. Tua will get a chance to bounce back against the 0-10 Jets in Week 12.

There's a need to be realistic for a rookie making his first pro start at quarterback, especially one who has overcome a career-threatening hip injury suffered in November 2019.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was playing well for the 3-3 Dolphins, and he's very comfortable within the scheme. It should not be a surprise to see a Tua Tagovailoa-led offense take an initial step back.

As the story said, what we do know about Tua is he can make all the throws, including some Fitzpatrick can't. Tagovailoa's athleticism provides a new element, and he has spent the past few months soaking up everything from the 16-year veteran QB and 68-year-old offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

Tua Tagovailoa enjoys utilizing quick receivers with route-running ability. DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are clearly the team’s No. 1 and 2 wideouts, but Isaiah Ford might be one of the better route runners on the team.

Ford relies on his speed and got off to a solid start this season, including a career-best seven-catch, 76 yard-performance against the Bills in Week 2. As the story also said, he has cooled off since and didn’t register a target against the Jets. Ford will be looking to bounce back against the Rams, who are tough defensively both up front and in the secondary. He's a name to keep an eye on and could potentially click with Tua this week.

If Deebo Samuel (hamstring) can't play against the Seahawks, Kendrick Bourne likely would start opposite Brandon Aiyuk, and Dante Pettis likely would be in uniform for the first time in three weeks. The 49ers also have the option of elevating Kevin White or River Cracraft from the practice squad.

The injury happened on a run play. Samuel was second among WRs in snaps behind Aiyuk and from what the article said, Bourne would step into Samuel's role if the injury keeps him out in Week 8.

Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith logged a full practice session on Thursday.

Smith's injury was deemed to be minor coming out of Week 6, so his return to a full practice on Thursday after a limited practice on Wednesday suggests that he may be left off the final injury report entirely heading into Week 7's contest. Smith should step right back into his normal role and is our eighth ranked tight end for Week 7.

Titans TE Jonnu Smith was able to practice in a limited fashion Wednesday after injuring his ankle in Week 6.

Smith had settled in as a solid TE1 before the injury as an explosive athlete after the catch getting targets from a red-hot Ryan Tannehill. Getting in a limited Wednesday practice is a promising sign that Smith should play this weekend against Pittsburgh. Whether he will be 100% is another question, and the Steelers defense has been one of the best in the league to this point. If Smith is active he should be started, but be warned he carries more risk than usual this week.

When you're talking about the ceiling and floor of all starting QBs around the league, few people would deny that Ryan Fitzpatrick is as unpredictable as they come; and not only that, but that when he does bottom out, he sinks the whole ship with him. Tua Tagovailoa, on the other hand, has a ceiling that also makes him a more intriguing option for a team at a crucial crossroads -- a club finally within striking distance of the division lead. Fitz, at 37, is no slouch on the ground, but Tua's 22-year-old legs are an obvious upgrade.

While the author isn't necessarily talking about floor and ceiling exactly like we do in the fantasy world, it still brings up a good point. The story said in Miami's 24-0 shutout of the Jets on Sunday, Fitz threw three scores, but he also passed for under 200 yards and threw two picks. The Dolphins aren't going to be able to afford their QB turning the ball over two or three times when it's December or January and the opponent is not the Jets, the story said. The author mentioned Tagovailoa has been hailed for his smarts, his instincts, his pocket presence and his ability to limit turnovers. As the story added, Tua's potentially the perfect point guard for Miami's offense.