Dolphins QB Teddy Bridgewater Ruled Out Under Concussion Protocols

The Dolphins are being forced to go three-deep on their quarterback depth chart. Veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater exited Miami’s contest against the Jets with an elbow injury, and was also taken for evaluation of a head injury. The team announced that he will not return to the game. 

This development comes with starter Tua Tagovailoa sidelined after he suffered a concussion last Thursday. The team’s handling of his availability on that short-week game drew sharp criticism, and led to new concussion protocols being enacted in time for today’s slate of games. Under those new regulations, Bridgewater was taken to the locker room following the hit he sustained on the first play of the game.

The 29-year-old passed all concussion tests, but is still ineligible to return under the jointly-approved rules, and the observations made by the spotters present at the game (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). That gives Bridgewater the distinction of being the first player to be removed from a contest under the new regulations. He will remain in concussion protocol until receiving clearance from an independent neurologist, Pelissero tweets.

Injuries have been ever-present in Bridgewater’s career. They contributed to his Vikings tenure ending after just two years, along with his stints in New Orleans and Denver as a backup. The one-time Panthers starter was in line to occupy the No. 1 role for the foreseeable future given Tagovailoa’s injury, but now the team is left with a decided lack of experience at the position.

Seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson has taken over at quarterback, a situation made possible by the injuries, of course, but his performance in training camp and the preseason to land on the roster. The Kansas State product has completed 10 of 16 passes for 67 yards, along with an interception. After the Dolphins trailed 12-0, Thompson and the offense have lowered the deficit to five, as the Jets lead 19-14 at halftime.

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