Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will be the team’s starter when it plays its next game, ESPN reported on Tuesday morning.
Tagovailoa, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, replaced veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick and completed both of his pass attempts for nine yards during the latter stages of the Dolphins’ 24-0 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday.
The Dolphins (3-3) return from their bye week to host the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 1.
The Dolphins repeatedly have said that they were not going to rush the development of Tagovailoa, 22, who had been listed as the team’s No. 2 quarterback for each game this season.
Tagovailoa is coming off surgery for a hip injury he sustained while playing for Alabama last season.
Tagovailoa left the storied Crimson Tide program as No. 1 in school history in completion percentage (69.3 percent), touchdown passes in a season (43 in 2018) and career passing touchdowns (87). He threw for 7,442 yards in his 32 games with Alabama.
Fitzpatrick, 37, has completed 138 of 197 passes for 1,535 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season, which is his 16th in the NFL.
