According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns due to a hip injury.

Schefter noted that Tagovailoa is “still pushing to play” but would be replaced by Tyler Huntley if he couldn’t play in the game.

Tagovailoa missed four games earlier this season due to a concussion he suffered during a loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 2. He approved the concussion protocol before Week 8.

The previous injury was the third diagnosed concussion in his NFL career, including two in the 2022 season. Tagovailoa was also diagnosed with a concussion while playing for Alabama.

Tagovailoa told reporters before Week 8 that he had not had any concussion symptoms since the day after the loss to the Bills.

He also said he would make the “personal decision” not to wear a Guardian Cap, the soft-shell helmet cover that the NFL says is associated with a lower risk of concussion. ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques noted that Tagovailoa is wearing a specially designed quarterback helmet with a higher level of safety than a regular Guardian Cap helmet.

After earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023 by leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards, Tagovailoa began the 2024 season completing less than 65 percent of his passes for 483 yards, two, before his concussion in Week 2 touchdowns and three picks.

Huntley and Skylar Thompson earned starts during his IR stint, but were unable to boost the Dolphins’ offense in Tagovailoa’s offense.

In four games without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins scored a total of 40 points and posted a 1-3 record. In Week 7, the Dolphins averaged 11.7 points per game, the fewest in the NFL and a significant decrease from last season’s average of 27.9 points.

The Dolphins’ scoring ability recovered quickly after Tagovailoa’s return. He has increased his pass completion rate to over 72 percent while throwing for 2,867 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 starts this season.

Miami’s struggles without Tagovailoa made it clear that this team’s slim hopes of a playoff bid hinge on the availability of its starter. Given his injury history, the Dolphins will also need to consider Tagovailoa’s long-term health when planning for his return to the field.