The quarterback situation for the Miami Dolphins has been a mess all season.
Tua Tagovailoa opened as the starter and the team won its opener.
Then the southpaw went down with an injury, Deshaun Watson trade rumors swirled nonstop, and the team lost seven games in a row.
Week 9 saw Jacoby Brissett step in as starter as Tagovailoa was out with a finger injury.
The odd part was that Tagovailoa was still the backup, even though he was allegedly not healthy enough to play.
The Dolphins are in action this Thursday night and are preparing for the game without a definitive starter.
From @GMFB: The #Dolphins QB situation is still in flux, as Tua Tagovailoa is limited with a finger fracture heading into Thursday night. pic.twitter.com/EfEBcY5cdY
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 10, 2021
As Ian Rapoport explains, this is not a pain tolerance issue.
Tagovailoa is just having trouble gripping the football.
Off in the very far distance in that red No. 1 jersey, Tua Tagovailoa throwing in the early stretch portion of Dolphins Tuesday night walkthrough. pic.twitter.com/jxzFTD8M1R
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) November 9, 2021
A Difficult Situation
Brian Flores is in a tough spot.
His team is 2-7 and while it would be easy just to bench Tagovailoa is he’s not 100 percent, jobs are on the line.
That is true for Flores and Tagovailoa, so the goal is still to win with the best players available.
So if there is not a ton of confidence in Brissett, Tagovailoa may have to play to help his team chase a victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
The lack of faith shown in the second-year quarterback by ownership is a major concern and distraction for the entire team.
The Dolphins will likely pursue Watson again in the offseason, leaving the entire team in flux as to expectations and plans for 2022.
Week 10 is a microcosm of the entire season.
The Dolphins don’t know who will start at quarterback and Tagovailoa’s status is in question right up until kickoff.
This is not a winning formula and Flores may rightfully get worried about his job security if his team falls flat in primetime.
NEXT: Tua Tagovailoa Can Finally Focus On His Development Again
