Report: Miami Dolphins officially designate Tua Tagovailoa for return from injury reserve

The Miami Dolphins received some good news on Tuesday when quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was cleared to return from the team’s injured reserve list.

Tagovailoa suffered fractured ribs during the team’s 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 19, with Jacoby Brissett taking his job during the rehabilitation period.

During Tagovailoa’s absence, the Dolphins’ offense has struggled while the team’s defense has done even worse, allowing 138 points in the team’s four losses.

The Dolphins won their first game of the season against the New England Patriots on Sept. 12, but currently find themselves with a 1-4 mark on the season. The second of those losses came against the Las Vegas Raiders, a game in which they jumped out to an early 14-0 lead before losing in overtime, 31-28.

When the Dolphins drafted Tagovailoa last year with the fifth overall pick, he was coming off career-threatening hip surgery.

That lengthy rehabilitation resulted in the Dolphins keeping the offense simple to help Tagovailoa make the difficult jump from the collegiate game.

The hope is that Tagovailoa will stay healthy for the remainder of the season and give the Dolphins the chance to again contend for a playoff berth.

Tagovailoa does benefit from potentially returning this week, since the Dolphins face the winless Jacksonville Jaguars, who currently have an 0-5 mark on the season.