Dolphins place QB Tua Tagovailoa on IR with fractured ribs

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 9/25/21

The Miami Dolphins have placed starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve with fractured ribs, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Miami hopes to have Tagovailoa back in three weeks.

Sources: The #Dolphins are placing QB Tua Tagovailoa on Injured Reserve, meaning he’ll miss three games. The hope is he returns from his broken ribs at that point. But it’s Jacoby Brissett’s show for the next three games.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 25, 2021

Tagovailoa fractured his ribs in Miami's 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend and had previously been ruled out for Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The earliest Tagovailoa can return to the field is Miami's Week 6 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which will be played in London.

Tagovailoa is 1-1 this season, completing 54.8% of his passes for 215 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He has also ran for a score. With the 23-year-old sidelined, veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett will start with Reid Sinnett backing him up.

Brissett has started 32 games in the NFL, including 30 for the Indianapolis Colts in 2017 and 2019. The 28-year-old is 12-20 in his career, having completed 59.6% of his passes for 6,628 yards and 31 touchdowns against 14 interceptions.

Brissett has been praised by his teammates over the last week. Wide receiver Albert Wilson said, per ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques: "We've got full confidence in him as we do with Tua."

In addition to the Dolphins and the Colts, Brissett has also played for the New England Patriots.

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