Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa throwing without any limitations

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Tua Tagovailoa is throwing the football seemingly without any limitations.

For the first time since fracturing the middle finger on his throwing hand three weeks ago in a loss to the Buffalo Bills, the Miami Dolphins’ second-year quarterback is working exclusively with the first-team offense, and he’s throwing the ball with some velocity.

The hope is that the injury to his throwing hand, which kept him from starting the past two games, won’t limit the offense in Sunday’s game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium, which is notorious for having swirling winds in the stadium.

“He’s had a good couple of days of practice,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said, referring to the three on-field sessions the Dolphins have held since Miami’s 22-10 win over the Baltimore Ravens, a game in which Tagovailoa replaced an injured Jacoby Brissett and completed 8-of-13 passes for 158 yards and scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.

After the game Tagovailoa said he had some pain from the hand, and admitted the injury impacted his throws. However, that pain seems to have subsided some.

“Obviously there is definitely some discomfort, but he’ll fight through it,” Flores said. “But he’s looked good.”

The hope is that Tagovailoa will be able to jump-start Miami’s stagnant offense, which is averaging just 17.7 points this season.

“We’re getting into a good flow of things — no pun intended,” Tagovailoa said, getting a chuckle out of the use of Flores’ nickname. “I think that guys are starting to find their rhythm defensively, offensively and in special teams. We just have to continue to find ways to play complementary football. That’s really all it is.”

Sunday’s game will be Tagovailoa’s 15th NFL start, and while the former Alabama standout is 7-7 in his career as an NFL starter, he’s 1-4 this season in games he’s started.

The Jets will provide him an opportunity to produce a winning record, which only a couple of his peers from the 2019, 2020 and 2021 NFL drafts have achieved.

Only Arizona’s Kyler Murray, who owns a 20-19-1 record as an NFL starter, and New England’s Mac Jones, who is 7-4 as a rookie starter for the Patriots, possess a winning record in quarterback selected the past three draft cycles.

Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts is 5-9. Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow is 7-11-1, and Los Angeles Chargers starter Justin Herbert is 11-13.

Green Bay’s Jordan Love lost his first ever NFL start earlier this month.

Pittsburgh’s Dwayne Haskin, who was initially Washington’s first-round pick in 2019, was 3-10 as a starter in 2019 and 2020.

New York Giants’ Daniel Jones is 11-24 in his three seasons as a starter, and Denver’s Drew Lock was 8-10 before being replaced by Teddy Bridgewater.

Gardner Minshew, who is now a backup in Philadelphia, produced a 7-13 record as Jacksonville’s starter in 2019 and 2020.

As for the 2021 draftees, Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence is 2-7. New York Jets Zach Wilson is 1-5 before being sidelined by an injured knee. Joe Flacco will start for the Jets this week against Miami.

San Francisco’s Trey Lance is 0-1 and Chicago’s Justin Fields is 2-5.

Injury update

Starting defensive lineman Christian Wilkins and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Wilkins has been limited all week because of a calf injury he suffered in Miami’s last game.

Van Ginkel aggravated a back injury he’s been nursing for a few weeks. Flores said both players’ status for Sunday’s game will be game-time decisions.

If Wilkins doesn’t play, Adam Butler and Zach Sieler will have their roles elevated. If Van Ginkel doesn’t play or is limited by his back issues, expect Brennan Scarlett, Sam Eguavoen and possibly Vince Biegel, who is on the practice squad

Cornerback Elijah Campbell was limited by a toe injury all week but is slated to play.

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