Brian Flores offers disappointing reason why Miami Dolphins haven’t started Tua Tagovailoa

Published by

Brad Sullivan

6 years ago

Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores offered a simple reason on Wednesday for not having started the team’s top draft pick, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

He’s not ready yet.

Flores has had to deal with the increased push to insert Tagovailoa into the starting lineup as a result of the Dolphins winning only once in their first four games.

Yet, despite that growing clamor, Flores shut the door on that prospect and will keep veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick in that role when the Dolphins travel to face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

Tagovailoa has gone through intensive rehabilitation since he underwent major hip surgery last November. He needed the surgery due to a serious injury that closed out his collegiate career at the University of Alabama.

Even without that injury, rushing the rookie quarterback into a starting role so early in the season would appear to be a panic move by Flores.

The reality is that the Dolphins have had a tough early schedule, with three of their first four games coming against playoff teams from last year.

Sunday’s matchup pits the Dolphins against the defending NFC champion 49ers on the road, which is a stiff challenge for any team.

At some point in the future, Tagovailoa will be ready and Flores will start him. Until then, patience should be a virtue for all fans of the Dolphins.

Brad Sullivan

Brad is a freelance writer for Dolphinnation.com and has been around long enough to remember the 1972 perfect season, and even when Don Shula was coaching the Colts. He still follows the Dolphins and other happenings in the NFL, so he can offer a little perspective when it comes to the ups and downs of each season. Some of his opinions may end up differing from the people who read them, but that's par for the course when it comes to life in South Florida.