This story has been updated from a previous version.
The Dolphins' quarterback situation has gone from bad to worse following an injury to backup signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater in Miami's game at the Jets.
Bridgewater was hit with a corner blitz by rookie Sauce Gardner around the 13-minute mark of the first quarter, forcing a throw-away and safety.
The bigger story, however, is the fact Bridgewater — in for the injured Tua Tagovailoa, who is concussion protocol — was slow to get up.
Sauce Gardner forces the safety! @iamSauceGardner
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2022
📺: #MIAvsNYJ on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/5wEbhQ3nxf pic.twitter.com/R1KEq7FJwD
The Dolphins designated him as questionable to return with an elbow injury, though reports from the game indicate Bridgewater went to the locker room to meet with an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant to test for a potential concussion.
MORE: Tua Tagovailoa injury investigation: NFL-NFLPA review finds flaw in concussion protocol
Considering the heavy criticism Miami faced in Weeks 3 and 4 for its handling of Tagovailoa, it's possible the Dolphins elect to keep Bridgewater out for the rest of the game. As of the time he exited the field, he had zero completions on one pass attempt, resulting in the safety.
Update: The Dolphins have officially downgraded Bridgewater to out, without providing an explanation as to his injury.
Injury Update | Teddy Bridgewater has been downgraded to out. https://t.co/Bdp8CaVERg
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) October 9, 2022
Joe Schad reports that, via the CBS telecast of the game, Bridgewater passed concussion protocol but was kept out in an abundance of caution.
Teddy Bridgewater passed concussion tests per CBS but was ruled out in abundance of caution
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 9, 2022
Update 2: Cameron Wolfe of the NFL Network added further clarity to the Bridgewater situation, reporting that he was kept out as a result of the NFL and NFLPA's recent updates to concussion protocol: namely, that any indication of ataxia — loss of control of bodily movements — rules a player out for the remainder of the game.
For clarity: Dolphins say Teddy Bridgewater passed his concussion tests but was ruled out due to concussion protocol based on what the ATC spotter saw from Bridgewater and new NFL-NFLPA protocols (ataxia as no-go to return). Bridgewater, hurt on his 1st play, is in the protocol.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 9, 2022
Update 3: Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed after the game that an ATC spotter saw Bridgewater stumble after the hit, which resulted in him being diagnosed with ataxia and, therefore, subject to the league's updated protocol.
Mike McDaniel: A spotter saw Teddy Bridgewater stumble. He was ruled out under the new rules. There are no symptoms and he passed evaluation. But he'll be in concussion protocol. I believe he's fine to travel.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) October 9, 2022
The addition to the protocol was enacted ahead of the Week 5 slate of games following the concussion suffered by Tagovailoa against the Bengals during "Thursday Night Football." Ironically, the first player to be ruled out under the new protocol was his backup.
Dolphins QB depth chart
With Bridgewater unable to return, the Dolphins will go with seventh-round rookie draft pick Skylar Thompson, who turned heads as one of the standouts of the preseason.
| String | Quarterback |
|---|---|
| 1st | Tua Tagovailoa |
| 2nd | Teddy Bridgewater |
| 3rd | Skylar Thompson |
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. reportedly is the Dolphins' emergency quarterback.
