Mike McDaniel addresses Miami's QB crisis after Teddy Bridgewater broke a finger in Patriots loss

Tua Tagovailoa is set to miss the Dolphins’ must-win game against the Jets on Sunday as he continues to recover from his third concussion of the season, though Miami head coach Mike McDaniel has concerns about the backup quarterback’s fitness Teddy Bridgewater.

The 30-year-old Bridgewater injured a finger on his right hand with 2:51 left in the third quarter of a 21-23 loss to the New England Patriots before being replaced by the team’s third-stringer Skylar Thompson, 22.

The Dolphins ended up giving up a 14-10 lead in the second half of Sunday’s game, as Patriots safety Kyle Dugger’s interception proved costly as he returned it 39 yards for the go-ahead score.

Miami will be without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, 24, against the Jets on Sunday

Dolphins backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, 30, broke a finger Sunday against the Patriots

Thompson then couldn’t muster much offense against an injury-plagued New England defense, which had an interception and a late touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki to cut the deficit to 23-21. He finished 12-of-21 for 104 yards.

If fit, McDaniel is unsure whether to stick with Bridgewater as the starter for Sunday’s pivotal game against the Jets, or hand Thompson his second start ever in the NFL.

I didn’t even think about it [Tagovailoa’s] playing status. It’s about him being healthy every day,’ McDaniel told ESPN. ‘And so I can’t really factor him into any kind of equation until we’re ready to broach that. It’s really a situation of, at this point in the week — Monday and Tuesday game preparation — I’m going to prepare for both Skylar and Teddy, and then continue as the week goes on.’

Last week, McDaniel was told by medical professionals that it was ‘very important that Tua is only concerned about the day he is currently in and nothing else’ and to follow the advice.

The Dolphins could start 22-year-old third-stringer Skylar Thompson in Sunday’s must-win game

Coach Mike McDaniel isn’t sure what his QB options are with five days left before gameday

On Monday, Miami’s head coach told reporters that he did not know when to expect Tagovailoa to return to practice. He also said the third-year quarterback hasn’t been told about a comeback date.

‘Specifically as mandated, I haven’t had a discussion with Tua about when he’s playing,’ McDaniel said. ‘Because again, the picture is painted very … from his head coach to the player, no timeline has been discussed objectively.

‘It’s a daily process really, that’s the most important thing we follow. And that only improves him every day and makes him healthier as a person. So I don’t really have a timeline, unfortunately.’

McDaniel added that Tagovailoa is in good spirits and that he feels “compelled” to remind the 24-year-old that football does not come before his physical and mental health.

No NFL team has made the playoffs after losing three or five consecutive games in the season

No team in NFL history has had three and five game losing streaks in the same season and made the playoffs. But the Dolphins — with a win over the Jets on Sunday and some help from the Buffalo Bills — can do exactly that.

Otherwise, an offseason of great fanfare, followed by an 8-3 start this season and sitting atop the AFC East in late November will be for naught.

‘We just have to focus on next week,’ Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips said. ‘Win or go home.’

The only way Miami can make the playoffs is by beating the Jets and Buffalo beating New England. Otherwise, the Dolphins will finish 9-8 and miss the playoffs — like last year — or worse, finish 8-9 and miss the playoffs.