Dolphins start Tagovailoa, Brewer active on thin O-line vs Chargers

The Miami Dolphins will start quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers despite the signal-caller appearing on the team injury report this week with a hip issue and a left-thumb injury, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday. Center Aaron Brewer, who was listed as questionable with a pectoral injury after limited practice participation, was active for the game, the team confirmed Saturday.

Tagovailoa was limited in practice Wednesday with the hip and left-thumb injuries but practiced fully later in the week and took first-team reps, McDaniel said. The coach added the hip injury does not appear to be hindering Tagovailoa and said it is unrelated to a prior hip surgery he underwent in college. Backup quarterback Zach Wilson remains available if Tagovailoa cannot play.

Brewer’s availability had been a key concern for Miami because the offensive line is already shorthanded. James Daniels and Austin Jackson are on injured reserve, Liam Eichenberg is on the physically unable to perform list, and Andrew Meyer remains sidelined with an elbow injury. That left the Dolphins with eight offensive linemen on the 53-man roster entering Sunday, making Brewer’s status...