Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel plans to play starters in the preseason finale, but quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will not get in-game reps with Tyreek Hill before the regular season because Hill continues to be limited by an oblique injury and has not practiced. Jaylen Waddle may suit up and receive game reps before the Sept. 7 opener at Indianapolis, giving Tagovailoa a chance to restore Waddle's game-day routine and assess pre-snap procedures, motion and timing. With Tyreek sidelined, Tagovailoa is building rapport with other receivers and evaluating which pass catchers understand the playbook and can be trusted.
Even though Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel announced Thursday he plans on playing starters in Saturday's preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, it still won't mean quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will get in-game reps with star wide receiver Tyreek Hill before the start of the regular season. When Tagovailoa did see action in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears Aug. 10, Hill was in his first week dealing with an oblique injury.
That ailment is still hindering Hill, who hasn't participated in a practice since, and the veteran speedster surely won't be out there for the final exhibition before the regular season. One potential plus for Tagovailoa, though, is that fellow top wide receiver Jaylen Waddle may suit up and get game reps before the opener Sept. 7 at the Indianapolis Colts.
That'll be a great opportunity, Tagovailoa said. Hopefully, we get to get Waddle out there. Just get him back in his routine, the game-day routine, the feel of hearing the first play, getting out and running the first play. I want to see the procedural aspect of it, how we do with the pre-snap deals, motion, motion landmarks, lining up in the right spots, going out playing fast, everyone knowing where to be, where to go.
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