EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Teddy Bridgewater’s first start at quarterback for his hometown Miami Dolphins lasted one offensive play.
He was forced to exit against the New York Jets on Sunday at MetLife Stadium due to the NFL and NFL Players Association adjustment to the league’s concussion protocol that was announced Saturday.
With rookie seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson taking the reins at quarterback, the Jets pulled away in the fourth quarter for a decisive divisional victory, 40-17, even as the Dolphins posted their best rushing output of the season.
A four-game winning streak against New York (3-2) was snapped for Miami (3-2), which lost a second consecutive road game (previously lost at Cincinnati on Sept. 29) after starting 3-0.
Taking a hit from Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner, Bridgewater was ruled out, deemed to show signs of ataxia, the new term being emphasized in concussion checks. While Bridgewater passed all concussion tests with the Dolphins’ team doctor and the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant in the locker room, the spotter upstairs deemed Bridgewater stumbled, which is an automatic “no-go” symptom.
With the Dolphins backed up against their own goal line, Bridgewater took the hit from Gardner in the end zone. Getting the pass off, Bridgewater had the back of his head hit the ground from whiplash, similar to how Miami starter Tua Tagovailoa had it happen in each of the Dolphins’ past two games.
Bridgewater was evaluated in the team’s medical tent on the sideline and then escorted by the team doctor and UNC into the locker room. The initial announcement, before he was ruled out, said an elbow injury was also at play while he was evaluated for a head injury.
The Bridgewater pass was ruled intentional grounding, resulting in a safety since it took place in the end zone. While the pass landed at the feet of tight end Durham Smythe, Smythe was engaged as a blocker.
Thompson entered on the Dolphins’ second drive and second offensive play. Miami did not have another active quarterback as recently signed Reid Sinnett was not up on the game-day roster from the team’s practice squad. Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. would have been the backup should something had happen to Thompson.
Bridgewater was starting Sunday while Tagovailoa recovers from his concussion suffered on Sept. 29. The league and union’s review of a Tagovailoa concussion check four days earlier, when he was cleared to return against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 25, ignited the protocol adjustment put into action for Sunday’s NFL games.
Bridgewater suffered two concussions while with the Denver Broncos last season.
Raheem Mostert became the Dolphins’ first 100-yard rusher this season, going for 113 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Thompson finished 19 of 33 for 166 yards but drew several more on multiple pass-interference penalties by the Jets. Tyreek Hill caught all seven of his targets for 47 yards.
Jets quarterback Zach Wilson was 14 of 21 for 210 yards. Rookie running back Breece Hall had 100 yards receiving and 97 rushing.
In addition to Bridgewater, Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead left Sunday’s game later in the first quarter after re-aggravating his toe injury he played through for Miami’s previous three games and did not return. Armstead was questionable entering Sunday with the ailment after going the week without practicing.
Veteran tackle Brandon Shell, who was elevated from Miami’s practice squad on Saturday, replaced Armstead at left tackle.
Trailing throughout the afternoon, the Dolphins missed an opportunity to take their first lead early in the fourth quarter when kicker Jason Sanders missed a 54-yard field goal wide right.
The Jets took advantage. They put themselves up two possessions, 26-17, on running back Michael Carter’s second 1-yard touchdown plunge, which came with 9:22 remaining. A pass to Hall got New York to the 1 after cornerback Noah Igbinoghene collided with linebacker Jerome Baker with a shot to make the tackle just inside the 20.
The Jets piled it on shortly thereafter. Carl Lawson, fighting through tight end Mike Gesicki, had a strip-sack on Thompson that was recovered by Quinnen Williams. Hall took it in from 5 yards out on the following play.
After the safety to start the scoring Sunday, the Jets tacked on a 34-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein later in the opening period to take a 5-0 lead.
On the final play of a first quarter from hell for the Dolphins, Hall broke free from coverage on a wheel route to take a pass from Wilson 79 yards to the 1-yard line. New York scored on a Carter 1-yard run on the first play of the second quarter. The Jets extended their advantage, 12-0.
But the Dolphins responded by maneuvering 75 yards in eight plays for a touchdown drive capped by a creative wide run for 12 yards by Mostert. It was reminiscent of coach Mike McDaniel’s run game as offensive coordinator in San Francisco as, on the previous play, Hill had a 10-yard run on a double reverse.
It was 12-7, but New York got those points back on a 5-yard Wilson touchdown scamper that came off a Gardner interception to give the offense the ball around midfield.
The Dolphins got back to within one score right before halftime. After a Mostert run got Miami to the 1-yard line, another brilliant play design by McDaniel had tight end Durham Smythe motion under center to sneak the ball across with 2 seconds left before intermission.
The Jets led, 19-14, at halftime, and Miami got to within 2, 19-17, on a 46-yard field goal from Jason Sanders on the opening drive of the second half.
After facing the Jets, the Dolphins return home to play the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6 next Sunday.
