Howard, Armstead, Chubb among several Dolphins to be game-time decisions at Patriots with Tua officially out

Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, as expected, was officially ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots due to his concussion.

The third-year quarterback remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol and likely in some of the early stages of the five-step return-to-play process as he did not practice all week.

McDaniel labeled Tagovailoa as “better than the day before” on Friday as the team is taking the approach of not having him worry about anything beyond the current day. Tagovailoa has been at team facilities this week, mostly with medical staff but also attending team meetings while not participating in positional meetings with the other quarterbacks.

Teddy Bridgewater is in line to start for the Dolphins in Foxborough on Sunday with rookie Skylar Thompson his backup quarterback.

McDaniel said several other Dolphins are expected to be game-time decisions ahead of the critical matchup against the Patriots with significant playoff implications for both AFC East rivals.

The team’s official injury report listed tackle Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard, outside linebacker Bradley Chubb, fullback Alec Ingold, tackle Greg Little and wide receiver River Cracraft as questionable with tackle Eric Fisher doubtful.

Howard, although McDaniel said he was expected to practice Friday, did not participate after popping up on the Thursday injury report with a knee ailment.

Armstead missed all three of the week’s practices as he nurses toe, pectoral, knee and hip injuries. Armstead is now dealing with an injury to a fourth body part, the hip, after already entering the past week with the other three ailments.

“A lot of trickle-down effect. He’s a warrior,” McDaniel said. “He’s going to push it until game time and see if he can give it a go.”

There is precedent for Armstead playing a game despite missing all three practices in a week. That was ahead of the team’s Week 3 game against the Buffalo Bills, but back then, Armstead only had concerns with his toe.

Chubb (hand/ankle) and Ingold (thumb) both returned to practice Friday after missing Wednesday and Thursday drills. Both wore a cast on their right hand.

“All players kind of fall under that umbrella [of game-time decisions],” McDaniel said.

Said Ingold: “Just ready to do everything I can to play, and we’ll see what happens when we go up to Foxborough.”

He added he’ll try to focus on using the left hand for a catch if he plays and a pass comes his way.

“I think I’m going to go straight one-handed,” Ingold said. “I was going to ask Tyreek [Hill]. I know he had some good one-handed catches, so I think I’m just going to watch some tape on him and ask him some questions there.”

Cracraft and Fisher — both with calf injuries — had missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Fisher was still not practicing Friday, but Cracraft returned to drills for the first time since originally hurting his calf on Dec. 8, the Thursday before the Dolphins’ loss to the Chargers.

“It’s been a long time coming. It’s been a very frustrating process,” said Cracraft, who added he had a setback during the recovery.

Little popped up on the injury report Friday for a foot injury for his questionable designation. Although right tackle Brandon Shell appeared on the Thursday injury report for a shoulder ailment, McDaniel feels confident he’ll be able to play Sunday.

The Patriots have already ruled out three players with concussions — wide receiver DeVante Parker, tight end Jonnu Smith and defensive back Marcus Jones — and cornerback Jack Jones due to a knee injury.

Questionable for New England: Tight end Hunter Henry (knee), cornerbacks Jonathan Jones (chest) and Jalen Mills (groin), running back Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and wide receiver Tyquan Thornton (knee).

Left guard decision

McDaniel would not reveal Friday who he’s starting against New England between Liam Eichenberg, who was activated off injured reserve this week, and Robert Jones.

With Jones filling in since Eichenberg injured his knee in the second half of the Oct. 30 win at the Detroit Lions, McDaniel did offer some positive words about his play over seven starts since.

“I feel fortunate that Rob really seized the opportunity that he’s had,” McDaniel said. “I think he’s put his best NFL tape on display. I think he’s continued to get better. We’ll continually do what’s best for the team, in our opinion, and that’s for the players to earn.”

Cethan Carter, Myles Gaskin IR updates

With heightened concussion talk this week, it’s worth noting that Dolphins tight end and special teamer Cethan Carter has not played since suffering a concussion on a Week 1 kickoff in the first meeting against New England.

He remained in concussion protocol the next four weeks before being placed on injured reserve in early October, without returning this season.

“That was something that doctors and Cethan really decided it was best served for [his] health to do so,” McDaniel said Friday. “It was much less of me deciding anything, rather than him and medical professionals choosing that being the best path for him.”

With Eichenberg activated, running back Myles Gaskin was placed on injured reserve to make room. He was only deemed to have an illness on the injury report the week prior, but McDaniel said there was more to his situation.

“He had to get something with his shoulder,” McDaniel said. “But beyond that grayness of detail, I wouldn’t really be able to elaborate on, but it was something that best served Myles to get on the road to recovery because it was something that was plaguing him for a minute.”

Practice squad move

The Dolphins signed wide receiver Calvin Jackson Jr., a Fort Lauderdale native and local high school football standout at Coral Springs Charter, back to their practice squad Friday. He had spent five weeks on the team’s practice squad earlier this season. Jackson is the son of the former Dolphins safety by the same name who made 57 starts for the team from 1994-1999.

To make room for Jackson, Miami released DaeSean Hamilton from the practice quad after originally signing him on Dec. 14.

If Cracraft is unavailable for Sunday, the Dolphins have an option to elevate Jackson or sign Braylon Sanders, who has used all three of his elevations, to the active roster. Miami has kept rookie Erik Ezukanma inactive for all 15 games this season.

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