Dolphins' quarterback situation murky after 'frustrating' loss

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Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel isn't willing to blame injuries for his team's 23-21 loss to the New England Pats.

Terron Armstead, Xavien Howard, Bradley Chubb, and Tua Tagovailoa did not play in Sunday's loss because of injuries.

It seemed like a typical example of the injuries the Dolphins have suffered this season. Miami's first-year coach wouldn't call it a challenge to his team's depth.

"I don't look at it that way because I trust the players that we have in the locker room." We've won a lot of games with guys stepping in for other players that weren't available. We are adjusting lineups more frequently than I can remember.

"If that's the case, I know that there's not anyone in the locker room that's looking at this loss as a failure because they know we were capable of getting the job done, and we didn't."

A finger on his right hand was injured in the third quarter when he tried to make a tackle after throwing an pick. He was taken to the medical tent and then went to the locker room. He returned to the sideline in the fourth quarter and did not return to the game.

He doesn't know the severity of the injury. In the fourth quarter, Thompson took over and completed 12 of 21 passes for 104 yards and one touchdown.

Thompson took over after just one play against the New York Jets in Week 5, the second time this year that Bridgewater was forced out of a starting position.

The conversation we had at the beginning of the year was kind of deja-vu. It's never a situation that you want to be in. Tua and Teddy mean a lot to me and it's hard to see them go down with injuries. When my number is called, I need to be prepared. It's frustrating because I want to win and I know my teammates want to win as well. Sometimes you just can't get over the hump.

Every time I step in between the lines, I'm going to give it everything I've got, even if there are plays that I wish I could have back. I will fight to win. I'm going to keep working hard.

It's not clear if Tagovailoa will return next weekend after he was diagnosed with a concussion. The team is focused on Tagovailoa's long-term health and taking things one day at a time, according to the coach.

The Dolphins' current five-game losing streak has officially dropped them out of the playoffs, and they have a crucial game in Week 18 against the Jets. They can make the playoffs with a win over the Jets and a New England loss to the Bills.