Mike McDaniel has an extremely depressing update on Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel is not hopeful for a quick return from Tua Tagovailoa entering the regular season’s final week.

The Miami Dolphins (8-8) are enduring one of the biggest team collapses in recent history as a critical Week 18 matchup with the New York Jets (7-9) looms.

While the Dolphins can clinch a berth in the postseason with a win to end a five-game skid, the bigger story is the health of their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, who has dealt with concussion issues all season. Tagovailoa was put back in concussion protocol after a home loss to the Green Bay Packers on Christmas Day. Apparently, ever since the switch to Teddy Bridgewater, Tagovailoa‘s prognosis ahead of the team’s most important game is not looking good.

During the Dolphins’ weekly press conference Jan. 2, McDaniel, who is in his first season as head coach, provided an update on the ex-Alabama national champion. According to the Pro Football Network’s Adam Beasley, there are several quarterback woes that the Dolphins are working through without a clear direction in sight.

”I have not idea about any sort of when, if, why or how” Tua will play again, McDaniel adds. “Realistically, we have to have both of our existing quarterbacks (Skylar and Teddy), both of those guys have to be ready to play regardless. We can’t just have one healthy QB.”

The Dolphins have failed to reach the playoffs over the last six years

Despite a storied history and tradition, the Dolphins have been irrelevant in the post-Dan Marino era. They haven’t reached the playoffs since 2016 and the last time Miami won the AFC East was 2008. A myriad of coaching changes, player personnel and free agency flops have all played a part.

But a win on Sunday could steer the ship forward and have the NFL world talking about the Dolphins as a Super Bowl contender in the coming years.