Report: Dolphins' Ryan Fitzpatrick Tests Positive for COVID-19, to Miss Game vs. Bills
Dolphins backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss Sunday's regular-season finale against the Bills, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport.
Fitzpatrick missed Miami's practice on Thursday and the team later announced it placed him on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Under the latest NFL protocols, players with a confirmed positive COVID-19 test must isolate for 10 days regardless of symptoms or subsequent negative tests. The protocol jeopardizes Fitzpatrick's availability for a potential AFC wild-card playoff game in early January.
According to Pelissero, the NFL conducted contact tracing after Fitzpatrick's positive COVID-19 test, and no other Dolphins players were identified as high-risk close contacts, including rookie starter Tua Tagovailoa.
Fitzpatrick led the Dolphins to a 26–25 come-from-behind win over the Raiders last weekend, putting them in a position to possibly reach the playoffs. The team can advance to the postseason with a win over the AFC East rivals Bills, who have already clinched the division title.
Fitzpatrick opened the 2020 season as Miami's starter but was demoted in late October when Tagovailoa took over. In nine games this season, Fitzpatrick has thrown for 2,091 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Tagovailoa was joined by quarterback Jake Rudock at practice Thursday after the team signed him and added him to its 53-man roster to serve as the backup quarterback.
Rudock was selected by the Lions in the 2016 draft out of Michigan. In three games in 2017, he went 3-for-5 while throwing for 24 yards with one interception. The Dolphins signed Rudock in January to a reserve/future contract, and he has bounced on and off their practice squad since October.
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