Report: Tua Tagovailoa clears protocol, out Sunday


Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was cleared from concussion protocol Saturday but will not play on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, ESPN reported.

Rookie seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson will make his first career NFL start when the Dolphins (3-2) host the Vikings (4-1). Teddy Bridgewater, who also reportedly cleared the protocol Saturday, will be active and serve as the backup.

Tagovailoa plans to return for the Week 7 home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 23, per the report.

Tagovailoa has not played since leaving the field on a stretcher in the Week 4 loss at Cincinnati. He hit his head on the turf while being sacked by Bengals nose tackle Josh Tupou and remained on the ground for roughly 12 minutes before he was carted off and taken to a hospital with a concussion and neck injury.

Tagovailoa, 24, led Miami to a 3-0 start this season and has completed 69.6 percent of his passes for 1,035 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.

Thompson, 25, completed 19 of 33 passes for 166 yards and one interception in relief of Bridgewater in Miami’s 40-17 loss to the New York Jets last Sunday.