MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa has fractured ribs and won't play Sunday when the Miami Dolphins visit the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dolphins head coach Brian Flores announced the diagnosis Wednesday, after initial tests suggested Tagovailoa was dealing with bruised ribs.
"He wants to play," Flores told reporters. "He's actually trying to play. We're going to save him from himself a little bit on this and hold him out this week and then take it week to week from there."
Flores said that former William T. Dwyer Community High School star Jacoby Brissett will start this weekend.
It's unclear how long Tagovailoa will be sidelined.
"We did some more tests and that revealed the fractures," Flores said.
Tagovailoa was knocked out of Miami's 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills last weekend after being hit by Buffalo defensive end A.J. Epenesa on the Dolphins' second drive of the game.
The 2020 first-round draft pick was carted off the field and didn't return.
Flores did not want to offer a timetable for a potential return but said Tagovailoa is already improving.
With Tagovailoa sidelined, Reid Sinnett will be the backup quarterback, Flores said.