The Miami Dolphins take on the Buffalo Bills in the first AFC East game of the season at 8:15 p.m. EST at Hard Rock Stadium. Here’s what you need to know.
TERRON ARMSTEAD, JEFF WILSON JR. OFFICIALLY RULED OUT
Armstead was initially listed as questionable in the third quarter but later returned. By the fourth quarter, however, Kendall Lamm had replaced Armstead. The Dolphins officially ruled Armstead out late in the fourth quarter.
Shortly after Armstead’s day ended, the Dolphins announced that Wilson had an oblique injury and would not return.
TUA GOES DOWN, RULED OUT WITH CONCUSSION
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Buffalo Bills with a concussion.
Tagovailoa collided with Bills safety Damar Hamilin late in the third quarter. He laid on the ground for a few minutes before getting helped off the field.
Skylar Thompson will replace him at quarterback.
TUA THROWS PICK 6
It has officially gotten ugly.
With the Dolphins already down 14, Tua Tagovailoa tried to throw the ball away out of bounds.
The thing is, he didn’t get enough on it, making it an easy pick for Ja’Marcus Ingram, his second of the game. Ingram took the ball 31-yards to the house. The Bills now lead 31-10
ROBERT JONES QUESTIONABLE TO RETURN
The starting left guard has a shoulder injury and his return is questionable.
Lester Cotton is currently in at left guard.
HALFTIME SCORE: 24-10 Bills
Thanks to a 34-yard field goal from Jason Sanders, the Dolphins have cut the deficit to just two scores.
A few things to note:
▪ Tyreek Hill has two catches for 16 yards and a single rush for 12.
▪ Jonnu Smith leads the team in receptions (4) and yards (40). His four targets ties Hill for the team lead.
▪ The Dolphins defense has yet to record a sack.
▪ The Dolphins lead the Bills in total net yards, first downs and offensive plays, however, Tua Tagovailoa’s two interceptions has clearly been the difference. Buffalo scored a total of 10 points off Tagovailoa’s pair of turnovers.
WHAT A HOMECOMING FOR JAMES COOK
Normally, these notes are reserved for all things Dolphins.
But when a former Miami Central Rocket scores three times in the first half, you make an exception.
Cook just took a handoff 49-yards before flipping into the endzone for his third touchdown of the game. He previously scored on a 1-yard run and a 17-yard reception.
The Bills are now up 24-7.
JAYLEN WRIGHT GETS FIRST NFL CARRY
The highly touted rookie running back got his first carry around the 12:41 mark in the second quarter.
He gained four yards. His second carry would’ve earned him nine yards but it was called back for holding.
TUA THROWS SECOND INT
Tua Tagovailoa threw his second interception of the game during the Dolphins’ third drive.
Tagovailoa targeted Robbie Chosen who was elevated from the practice squad earlier today. Although Chosen slipped on his route, it didn’t quite look like he and Tagovailoa were on the same page.
Both of Tagovailoa’s interceptions have come on throws to receivers who weren’t on the roster to start training camp. Chosen was signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad in late August while Grant DuBose, who Tagovailoa targeted on his first interception, was claimed off of waivers around the same time.
Luckily, the Dolphins defense held strong and forced the Bills to take a field goal. The score is 10-7.
ACHANE SCORES FINS FIRST TOUCHDOWN
A bunch of fantasy football managers just got really happy.
After being ruled questionable for tonight’s game, De’Von Achane scored the Fins’ first touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 courtesy of a 5-yard swing route in the redzone.
Achane touched the ball a total of four times on that drive, bringing his game total to six. The heavy dose of Achane early is a good sign considering his ankle nearly kept the second-year running back out against the Bills.
TUA THROWS FIRST INT OF SEASON
Tua Tagovailoa threw his first interception of the season on the Dolphins’ first offensive drive.
But it wasn’t exactly his fault.
The franchise quarterback fired a pass that hit the recently signed DuBose right in the numbers. Unfortunately, the ball bounced right off of his shoulder pads into the hands of cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram.
To make matters worse, the Bills would score the very next drive to put the Dolphins in a 7-0 hole.
ACHANE TO PLAY
Per Wednesday’s injury report, running back Raheem Mostert (chest) and rookie receiver Malik Washington (quadricep) have been ruled out for Thursday’s game.
Other inactives include Ethan Bonner, Channing Tindall, Mohamed Kamara and Andrew Meyer.
The most notable absence from Thursday’s inactive list: De’Von Achane who will likely start at running back in place of Mostert. Jeff Wilson Jr. and rookie Jaylen Wright will also be in the mix.
CHOSEN ELEVATED
The Dolphins elevated one player from the practice squad for the game: receiver Robbie Chosen. He will join Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios and Grant DuBose as the team’s receivers. Running back De’Von Achane played 11 snaps at receiver against Jacksonville.
Players can be elevated three times in a season; this is the second for Chosen.
TYREEK HILL UPDATE
Tyreek Hill said at his news conference on Tuesday that he declined to accept an apology from Danny Torres, the officer who played him in handcuffs outside Hard Rock Stadium during a traffic stop on Sunday.
But Torres’ legal representation told Outkick’s Armando Salguero that an apology was never offered.
Hill has not ruled out legal action against Torres. The Miami Dade Police Department re-assigned Torres to an administrative role pending an internal investigation.
Pregame Dolphins reading:
The first Bills game of the season is here! Here are a few stories to catch up prior to the 8:15 p.m. kickoff:
▪ The Bills have dominated the Dolphins in recent years. Miami wants to change the narrative
▪ The eyebrow-raising dynamic that has come to light in Dolphins’ offense
▪ Amazon Prime or CBS? Here’s how to watch Thursday’s Dolphins-Bills game
▪ Miami Dolphins’ losing streak vs. rival Buffalo is about to end. And here’s why
▪ Details on the Dolphins’ final injury report. And more Tyreek Hill fallout
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