The Miami Dolphins put their playoff hopes in the hands of rookie third-string QB Skylar Thompson, while the New York Jets will start Joe Flacco in Sunday’s potential AFC Wildcard decider.
The Miami Dolphins need a win against the New York Jets to make the playoffs and are hoping that rookie Skylar Thompson can pull off a magical performance to get them there.
Head coach Mike McDaniel said the 2022 seventh-round pick out of Kansas State will get the nod to start at quarterback in Sunday’s do-or-die game — while their first and second string signal callers sit out with injuries. .
Tua Tagovailoa remains in the concussion protocol retroactive to a hit sustained on Christmas Day against the Green Bay Packers. He was ruled out for the second week in a row.
The Dolphins are hoping that rookie Skylar Thompson can lead them to the playoffs this weekend
Second-string QB Teddy Bridgewater went down with an injury last week against the New England Patriots. While McDaniel is optimistic that Bridgewater will be active for Sunday, he said the play caller will be available in a backup capacity because he only started throwing the ball in the last few weeks of practice.
Meanwhile, their opponents will also have a new starter this week as Super Bowl XLVII champion Joe Flacco gets his fourth start of the season for the New York Jets, according to ESPN.
Last week’s starter Mike White was ‘in a lot of pain’ according to head coach Robert Saleh as his injuries ‘obviously affected his ability to throw the ball’.
Super Bowl XLVII champion Joe Flacco earned his fourth start of the season for the Jets
The Jets will not start struggling second-year passer Zach Wilson, who was benched for the practice squad QB just two weeks ago on Thursday Night Football against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Saleh said he didn’t want to give the start to Wilson because he wanted to ‘get him in the offseason so we can attack the plan we’ve developed. Putting him there now would do him no good; it won’t do anyone any good.’
Wilson will enter Sunday as the No. 2 quarterbacks on the Jets roster.
Jets head coach Robert Saleh will ask Zach Wilson to focus on the upcoming season
The Jets are without a game after being shut out in last week’s loss to Seattle. However, the Dolphins still have a shot to clinch the final Wild Card spot.
They need to win against New York on Sunday and then hope that the New England Patriots will suffer a loss in Orchard Park against the Buffalo Bills.
As things stand, Miami has a 44 percent chance of making the playoffs, according to the New York Times.
Jets-Dolphins kick off from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL at 1.00pm ET.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel knows his team needs a win and a Patriots loss for a Wild Card
