Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Jacoby Brissett and Justin Fields will start for the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears, respectively, on Sunday after starters Tua Tagovalioa and Andy Dalton were ruled out because of injuries, their coaches said Wednesday.
Tagovailoa and Dalton were hurt last weekend.
Tagovailoa injured his ribs in the first quarter of the Dolphins' 35-0 loss to the Buffalo Bills and did not return.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores said further tests this week revealed Tagovailoa "has fractured ribs" and is in "a lot of pain."
Related
"This is a tough kid," Flores told reporters. "He wants to play. He's trying to play.
"We're just going to save him from himself."
Flores said Tagovailoa is week-to-week to return. Tagovailoa completed just 1 of 4 passes for 13 yards and was sacked twice in Sunday's loss.
Brissett completed 24 of 40 passes for 169 yards and an interception and was sacked four times in his relief appearance.
The Dolphins signed Brissett as a free agent this off-season.
"We're going to move forward with Jacoby," Flores said. "The team understands that. It's not ideal, but we're going to move forward with the guys we have available."
Dalton joined the Bears as an off-season free agent. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown in a win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday in Chicago. Dalton left the game at halftime with a knee injury.
Fields completed 6 of 13 passes for 60 yards and an interception in relief of Dalton. He also ran for 31 yards on 10 carries.
"It's a great opportunity for Justin and for us as a staff to be able to take this thing and see where he goes," Nagy told reporters.
Nagy said Dalton's timeline to return also is week-to-week. He said Dalton will continue to be the Bears starter "when he is healthy."
The Bears selected Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Bears (1-1) face the Cleveland Browns (1-1) at 1 p.m. EDT Sunday in Chicago.
The Dolphins (1-1) battle the Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) at 4:05 p.m. EDT Sunday in Paradise, Nevada.
Several other quarterbacks sustained injuries in Week 2. Indianapolis Colts starter Carson Wentz sprained both ankles, but hasn't been ruled out to play against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in Nashville.
The Houston Texans placed starting quarterback Tyrod Taylor on injured reserve Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. Texans backup Davis Mills will start against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday in Houston.
