Dolphins vs. Bills odds move again with Tua Tagovailao ruled out

January 12, 2023 ndowd

Update: Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out for the Miami Dolphins’ playoff game against the Buffalo Bills, per head coach Mike McDaniel.

Tua has not been cleared for football activities, per Mike McDaniel — he has been ruled out for Sunday’s game vs the Bills

— Marcel Louis-Jacques (@Marcel_LJ) January 11, 2023

The Dolphins are now back to 10-point underdogs against the Bills following the news.

The Dolphins reportedly are planning as if rookie seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson will start against Buffalo.

Dolphins are preparing as if rookie QB Skylar Thompson will start Sunday at Buffalo.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 11, 2023

What follows is the initial story of the Dolphins moving from +10 to +9 against Buffalo prior to Tua being ruled out.

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The Miami Dolphins quarterback situation is completely in flux ahead of the team’s game against the Buffalo Bills on Wild Card Weekend.

Rookie seventh-round-pick Skylar Thompson started for the team in Week 18 against the New York Jets because Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) and Teddy Bridgewater (throwing hand) were both dealing with injuries and remain questionable heading into this weekend’s Wild Card game against the Bills.

That’s the primary reason Miami opened as a 10-point underdog against the Bills. On the bright side for Dolphins fans, however, Vegas has since adjusted the spread to +9, even though the team’s first official injury report hasn’t been released.

That line movement is a good sign for the Dolphins, although both Bridgewater and Tagovailoa still aren’t guaranteed to play this week. In previous weeks, like when Jalen Hurts got injured and the line for the Eagles-Cowboys game moved before the news even broke, Vegas is usually a step ahead of injury news being released, which could suggest they’re getting wind either Bridgewater or Tagovailoa might start.

Is Tua Tagovailoa playing this week? (Latest injury update for Wild Card Weekend)

Not only has there been positive movement in the odds, but Tagovailoa is making progress after sustaining his second concussion of the season back in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers.

Tagovailoa has been cleared for non-contact portions of practice, but that doesn’t mean he will clear concussion and be allowed to play against Buffalo.

If Tua is cleared for step 4 (non-contact practice stuff, drills, throwing), doctors must be certain he shows no symptoms to be moved to step 5 &then he must be fine after 5 to exit protocol. Dolphins have declined to say if they’ll definitely play Tua this season if he’s cleared https://t.co/XmElXZ67DH

— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 9, 2023

Getting to this point is a step in the right direction for Tua, and it’s likely a big reason why Vegas has slightly adjusted the line in this game.

However, the movement could also be a signal that Bridgewater will be ready to go even if Tagovailoa has to sit.

NFL insider Ian Rapoport expects that Bridgewater will get the start for Miami if Tagovailoa can’t go.

Even though he isn’t Tua, Bridgewater is a major upgrade over Thompson, who is still trying to figure things out at the NFL level. The Dolphins are going to be underdogs regardless in this game, but they already beat the Bills this season and then only lost to them by three in a more recent matchup.

Tagovailoa’s status on Wednesday’s injury report could lead to another change in the latest odds for this game.

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Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

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