Head coach Brian Flores pulled him off the practice field during warmups and apparently broke the news to him before telling reporters that Fitzpatrick was taking a leave from the team.
“He’s not retiring,” Flores set of the 37-year-old veteran, per ESPN. “He’s not opting out. He’s going to take as much time as he needs. We’re going to give him time to grieve.
“My thought on this is he’s going to try to get back as quick, as soon as he can. But we’re going to give him as much time as he needs.”
Flores said that there was “no quarterback controversy” amid the loss of the team’s anticipated starter two weeks before a Week 1 matchup against the New England Patriots. He also noted that it’s “hard to say” if he’ll be ready in time for the Sept. 13 season opener.
“He tried to go out there today,” Flores said. “I have gone through multiple conversations with him. He’s a competitive guy, tried to go out there but some things are more important than football.”
Fitzpatrick’s absence leaves quarterback duties in the hands of Josh Rosen and highly touted rookie Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins first-round draft pick out of Alabama. Tagovailoa is the future of the franchise, but the team has planned to ease him into his role with Fitzpatrick maintaining the reins of the offense this season — at least at the outset.
If Fitzpatrick isn’t available for Week 1, his absence will mean either Rosen takes over or the Dolphins accelerate their plan for Tagovailoa. Tagovailoa hasn’t played live football since dislocating his hip last November, cutting short his career with the Crimson Tide.
Reports of his recovery from the hip injury have been overwhelmingly positive. But without the benefit of preseason reps amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it seems unlikely that the Dolphins would put Tagovailoa under center in Week 1 if Fitzpatrick can’t go.
The Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins offense struggled at practice without Fitzpatrick, scoring just one touchdown on a Rosen pass in 15 possessions. Flores declined to say who has the leg up on the No. 2 spot on the quarterback depth chart and start for Week 1 if Fitzpatrick doesn’t play.
“We have an idea what we would do,” Flores said, per SI. “We’ve got a competition going on. Nothing is set in stone.”
The Dolphins will practice on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium without their presumptive starting quarterback. Via multiple reporters in attendance at the session, Ryan Fitzpatrick left the practice field before the session began. Here’s how Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald described it: « Before dolphins practice begins, Coach Brian Flores just walked QB Ryan Fitzpatrick [more]
Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer were on a collision course with Novak Djokovic on Saturday, calling for « unity, not separation » after their long-time rival superstar spearheaded a breakaway union of professional tennis players.
Pat Beverley continually interrupted NBPA head Michele Roberts Wednesday night as she explained the financial repercussions of leaving the NBA bubble.
Jon Rahm would have had the low round of the week at the BMW Championship if he had remembered to reach into his pocket on the fifth green.
A measure of Tiger Woods’s frustration at the state of his game came after the third round of the BMW Championship in Illinois on Saturday. Very rarely does the 15-time major winner decline to talk the media following a round, but at Olympia Fields he has done it two days running. In fairness, Woods – who, in contrast to certain peers, has made a habit of fulfilling his press responsibilities regardless of his score – probably does not know what to say. At 10 over in the penultimate FedEx Play-off event, the 44-year-old realises there is no chance of him qualifying for next week’s Tour Championship and that he will have to go into the US Open in three weeks’ time in awful form. This 72 was a slight improvement, but his seven on the 17th summed up his mood. Woods sliced his drive into the water and then hit a wild hook with his next shot. It was something of a relief when he tapped in for a four on the 18th, but standing outside the top 50, Sunday could also be a long day. On the European Tour, Martin Kaymer has his chance to win his first title since the 2014 US Open. The 35-year-old German is in second, only two back of South Africa’s Justin Walters, at the ISPS Handa UK Championship at the Belfry after a brilliant 66. It would be an emotional comeback victory for the former world No 1, particularly after his calamitous second round 82 at the recent USPGA Championship, where he went from one off the first-round pace to missing the cut. Misery has become an all-too regular occurrence in his career of late and the player now ranked 142nd explained why he feels more at ease on his home circuit. “This is where I feel comfortable, where I don’t need to adjust at all,” he said. “You see all the players and caddies that you have hung out with for the last 15 years. I don’t want to say family but it’s very close, having as much comfort as possible.”
Many Steelers fans blamed the team for Le’Veon Bell to leave but they got it right.
The 31-year-old confirmed on Saturday, after the third round of the BMW Championship at Olympia Fields, that his wife Erica was expected to give birth any day. « My mind has been wandering the last few weeks, » McIlroy told reporters after he shot a three-over par 73 to slip into a tie for sixth on two-over 212 and three shots behind co-leaders Hideki Matsuyama and Dustin Johnson. McIlroy added that he had been waiting for the phone call telling him that it was time to head home for more than a week and he would have no hesitation in walking off, even if during the final Tour Championship in Atlanta.
Kyle Busch was eliminated in a crash with eight laps to go in Saturday’s Cup regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway.
The Dodgers got to possible trade target Lance Lynn in defeating the Rangers 7-4 and picking up their 25th win two days before the MLB trade deadline.
The Miami Dolphins, eager to give roles to two linebackers signed during the offseason, on Saturday traded Raekwon McMillan, according to a source, sending away the player who was Miami’s best defender last season, according to metrics site Pro Football Focus.
Nick Ritchie has been a disappointment since being acquired at the trade deadline and Saturday’s Game 4 was more of the same. However, as our DJ Bean writes, the real blame is on the Bruins, not Ritchie.
Red Sox outfielder apologizes for poor choices of words after Red Sox decided to walkout on Thursday.
The Red Sox are looking to sell in a sea of buyers. So, who might Chaim Bloom send away next? John Tomase breaks it down.
Tom Brady’s first possession as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers player at Raymond James Stadium delivered a 98-yard touchdown drive.
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com