DAVIE, Florida – Veteran Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday’s game against Buffalo Bills, a source confirmed to ESPN.
The Dolphins and the NFL conducted initial contact tracking without any determined high-risk close contact on Thursday afternoon, a source told ESPN, but the process will continue. Fitzpatrick practiced fully on Wednesday and was not listed in the injury report, but he did not train on Thursday afternoon, indicating that the positive COVID-19 test was a recent surprise.
Newcomer Tua Tagovailoa is the starting quarterback for the Dolphins, but Fitzpatrick was called twice in the fourth period to play what coach Brian Flores compared to a “ninth entry reliever” role. Fitzpatrick led the Dolphins to a 26-25 comeback win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday after a 34-yard lift coupled with a 15-yard face mask penalty that set the winning field goal.
The Dolphins hired Jake Rudock for the 53-man squad on Thursday, and he is expected to be Tagovailoa’s reserve on Sunday. Tagovailoa, Rudock and training team quarterback Reid Sinnett trained fully on Thursday.
The NFL Network first reported the positive Fitzpatrick test.
Dolphins will win a playoff spot with a win over Bills. They could still make it to the playoffs with a loss, but they would need a loss from the Cleveland Browns (against a Steelers team resting the main players), Indianapolis Colts (against Jaguars) or Baltimore Ravens (against Bengals). Bills, who won AFC East, but could win second or third position based on the results of Week 17, have been shy about playing their starters.
Fitzpatrick, 38, is 4-3 as a starter this season, launching for 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.