EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa is out for the Miami Dolphins in a must-win game against the New York Jets on Sunday and Tyler Huntley will start at quarterback in his place.
Tagovailoa was listed among the Dolphins' inactives about 90 minutes before the game, which Miami (8-8) needs to win — and get some help elsewhere — to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Tagovailoa will miss his second game in a row with a hip injury. He was listed as doubtful to play on the team's final injury report on Friday after coach Mike McDaniel said the quarterback was “unlikely” to suit up. Tagovailoa's status for a potential playoff game was uncertain.
Huntley started the Dolphins' 20-3 victory over Cleveland last week and completed more than 80% of his passes for 225 yards with one TD toss and a TD run. He also led Miami in rushing with 52 yards on seven attempts.
The Dolphins need a win and a loss by Denver (9-7) at home to Kansas City (15-1), which is resting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, to reach the playoffs for the third straight year. If Miami loses or ties the Jets and Denver loses, Cincinnati (9-8) would get the AFC's final postseason spot.
Miami wide receivers Jaylen Waddle (knee) and Tyreek Hill (wrist/illness) were both active after being listed as questionable. Waddle returns after missing the past two games.
Among the Dolphins' other inactives were wide receivers Dee Eskridge and Erik Ezukanma, offensive linemen Andrew Meyer and Braeden Daniels, and linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. and Mohamed Kamara.
The Jets were without right tackle Morgan Moses (knee) and nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (back) among their inactives. Cornerback Sauce Gardner was ruled out Friday and placed on injured reserve Saturday with a hamstring injury.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley (18) smiles during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Shedeur Sanders insisted Friday he doesn't necessarily need the bright lights of Broadway or the Bellagio at the outset of his NFL journey. He suggested he could just as easily thrive for the “Dawg Pound” fan base in Cleveland.
“I could bring cameras and eyes anywhere I go," Sanders declared after throwing passes to a fantastic foursome of two-way star Travis Hunter, Jimmy Horn Jr., Will Sheppard and LaJohnty Wester at Colorado's pro day, dubbed the “We Ain't Hard 2 Find Showcase."
“It don’t matter where I go, I know ... the influence I have on the society and the culture," Sanders said. "So wherever I go it’s definitely going to be an improvement than what it was before I got there.”
Sanders proclaimed he's the top quarterback in the NFL draft on April 24, although most mock drafts have the Tennessee Titans taking Miami QB Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, followed by either Sanders or Hunter, the 21-year-old two-way star and Heisman Trophy winner who skipped the testing periods Friday but shined while running routes and catching passes — without gloves — from Sanders.
Hunter also shunned the post-workout podium after scores of NFL talent evaluators from all 32 teams descended on Colorado’s campus for the showcase whose moniker was a nod to one of “Coach Prime” Deion Sanders’ mottos. NFL Network broadcast the event and ESPN also was on hand.
The Browns own the second overall pick in the draft, followed by the New York Giants. Although both Sanders and Hunter figure to be selected in the top three picks, the Las Vegas Raiders could try to move up from sixth.
Deion Sanders has said he wants Shedeur to go to the right team with the right fit and he portrayed the Browns as an ideal possibility when asked about Shedeur and Hunter having dined with Browns bigwigs Thursday night.
No matter where he lands, Shedeur Sanders will be part of a rebuild, something he said he used to: “I don't think Jackson State or Colorado had a winning history before I got there. So, it's just another day in the office, another year in the office for me. It's the same thing over and over.
“I'm just thankful for the opportunity and whoever drafts me ... will be very lucky to get me.”
Deion Sanders stuck by his proclamation that Shedeur and Hunter should go 1-2 in the draft, although he didn't say who should be the top pick.
Hunter and Shedeur Sanders both skipped workouts at the NFL scouting combine and the Big 12 Pro Day. Sanders' brother, safety Shilo Sanders, skipped the bench press and vertical jumps that began the day at the Buffaloes' indoor practice facility Friday, citing a sore right shoulder. But he ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.52 seconds before cheering on his brother's passes in the afternoon.
All eyes were on Shedeur Sanders and Hunter, the 21-year-old two-way star who had 96 catches for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense and 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups, eight forced incompletions and four interceptions on defense while allowing just one touchdown last season when the Buffaloes went 9-4.
Hunter, who won the Heisman, Chuck Bednarik and Fred Biletnikoff awards, wants to play both offense and defense in the NFL, something that Hall of Famer Champ Bailey, the last true two-way player to come out of college, said will depend on where he lands on draft night.
“It's about what the team allows him to do,” Bailey told The Associated Press while watching the action. “When you call the defense out there, he's going to run out. When you call the offense out on the field, he's going to run out. But who's your coach? What will they allow him to do? Where he goes is going to determine how those first couple of years play out and the opportunities he gets. He's just got to get with the right team.”
Asked what it was like throwing to this group of receivers one last time, Shedeur Sanders said, “I'm not sure that one of these guys won't be on my team. I know them. So, who knows? Who knows if Shilo's going to be on my team? So, there's a lot of I-don't-know's right now.”
What he does know is his favorite part of pro day was having his brother cheering him on.
“It was cool that he was able to be there and support me. I wish I was there to watch him run his 40-yard. I think he ran a 4.52. So, he's been training hard to get that done, so I'm excited that we're all here, we're all shining and we're all going to be legendary.”
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Colorado head coach Deion Sanders looks on as players take part in the 40-yard dash during Colorado's NFL football pro day Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
