Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa (ribs) is day-to-day

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is day-to-day with a rib injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game.

X-rays on Tagovailoa’s ribs also were negative Sunday after he was carted to the locker room following a hard shot from Buffalo Bills defensive end A.J. Epenesa in the first quarter.

NFL Network reported Tagovailoa has bruised ribs.

With a game coming up against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) this week, it’ll be about pain tolerance for the second-year pro.

“If Tua can go, he’s going to go,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said Monday. “That’s the kind of kid he is. … Toughness isn’t something I’d question with him. He’s gonna do everything he can to come back as soon as he can.”

Tagovailoa completed 1 of 4 passes for 13 yards and was sacked twice before exiting after just two possessions.

Jacoby Brissett, who replaced Tagovailoa on Sunday, likely would get the call for the Dolphins (1-1) if he’s unable to go.

Brissett finished 24-for-40 for 169 yards and an interception in the 35-0 mauling by the Bills. Brissett was sacked four times in the loss.

Flores also said that wide receiver Will Fuller has returned to the team. Fuller missed Sunday against the Bills due to a personal issue.

Fuller didn’t play in the Dolphins’ Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. He was serving the final game of a six-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. He missed five games to end the 2020 season with the Houston Texans due to the punishment.

The 27-year-old Fuller signed a one-year, $10.625 million contract with the Dolphins in March.

–Field Level Media

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