Dolphins drop to Vikings powering Teddy Bridgewater immediately after Skylar Thompson exits

For a fourth consecutive 7 days, the Miami Dolphins had a commencing quarterback make an early exit.

And for a 3rd consecutive match, the Dolphins lost.

Rookie third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson by no means returned right after he was escorted into the locker home by a coach in the second quarter in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings, and a game that was offensively challenged for significantly of Sunday at Tricky Rock Stadium, nearly saw fireworks late.

But the Dolphins fell limited of their shot at a comeback behind backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, and Miami Central Higher merchandise Dalvin Prepare dinner delivered the last blow, a 53-lawn touchdown run, to sink his hometown workforce, 24-16.

“It’s disappointing,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated. “Guys put a great deal into this game.”

Miami (3-3) has misplaced 3 consecutive games soon after setting up the time 3-. Minnesota (5-1) carries on to roll as the leader in the NFC North.

Cook’s 53-yard scamper with 3:15 remaining primarily set the score out of reach, placing the Vikings up, 24-10.

The Dolphins obtained to inside a rating on limited conclusion Mike Gesicki’s next touchdown with 1:24 left, but they could not recover the ensuing onside kick.

Bridgewater, taking part in towards the team that drafted him in the initial spherical in 2014, went 23 of 34 for 329 yards — 237 of which arrived in the fourth quarter — with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Tyreek Hill experienced 177 yards on 12 receptions, and Jaylen Waddle went for 129 yards on 6 catches — but with a key fumble that preceded Cook’s landing halting Miami’s possibilities at a comeback.

The Dolphins protection held the Vikings to 11 three-and-outs. Exterior of Minnesota’s 4 scoring drives and the ultimate kneel downs, each sequence was a three-and out. The Vikings were held to 234 total yards.

Minnesota, although, received the turnover battle, 3-.

“The No. 1 indicator in wins and losses has been — and forever, generally will be — turnovers,” McDaniel claimed. “When you’re minus-3, you bought to be fairly epic in other strategies to try out to appear out on top. We just did not have that, really.”

Cousins was 20 of 30 for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Jefferson had 6 catches for 107 yards, and most of Cook’s 77 dashing yards arrived on the 53-garden landing.

Thompson’s exit was brought about by a strike from Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks on a 3rd-down pass. He injured the thumb on his proper, throwing hand. Bridgewater entered for Thompson, who was initially questionable to return but hardly ever did as he was witnessed back on the sideline throughout the next 50 percent.

“He was not physically capable of coming back again in,” mentor Mike McDaniel explained. “The most significant challenge is that he did not have the toughness keeping the ball, which is an challenge when you’re making an attempt to throw it.”

Bridgewater and Dolphins No. 1 quarterback Tua Tagovailoa experienced to clear concussion protocol this previous 7 days, and both of those had been cleared on Saturday.

With Tagovailoa returning from a major concussion sustained on Sept. 29 in the reduction to the Cincinnati Bengals, McDaniel determined to preserve him inactive for Sunday. Bridgewater, who had to apparent protocol with out at any time remaining identified with a concussion due to the fact he was ruled out of very last week’s reduction at the New York Jets due to a stumble, was retained out there by McDaniel for backup responsibilities. McDaniel attributed beginning Thompson around Bridgewater to owning the entire 7 days of observe.

Ahead of Bridgewater’s exit on Oct. 9 at the Jets and Tagovailoa on the Thursday evening match from the Bengals, Tagovailoa also left the Sept. 25 property acquire more than the Buffalo Expenses momentarily. His controversial clearance to return in the second 50 % was what sparked enhanced protocols by the NFL and Players Affiliation that resulted in Bridgewater’s disqualification following one offensive perform at New York.

Down, 16-10, deep in the fourth quarter Sunday, Miami squandered an possibility to get nearer when Waddle fumbled, with Vikings safety Camryn Bynum recovering with 4:15 still left. It arrived two plays ahead of Cook’s sealing landing run.

Thompson was 7 of 13 for 89 yards at the time of his departure. With Bridgewater at quarterback, Miami broke a scoreless tie with Minnesota in the center of the next period of time. A 44-yard subject intention from Jason Sanders put the Dolphins in advance, 3-.

Minnesota scored with 2:32 remaining in the initial 50 percent when quarterback Kirk Cousins identified tight stop Irv Smith Jr. for a 1-garden touchdown. A 24-yard catch and run by star receiver Justin Jefferson established the Vikings up for the small rating.

The Vikings included a Greg Joseph area objective on the final participate in of the very first half following Bridgewater was intercepted by basic safety Harrison Smith on a pass that received to Waddle but was dropped. Jefferson drew a pass interference on cornerback Noah Igbinoghene to get Minnesota in range for the discipline target.

The Vikings prolonged the direct all over again early in the fourth, with Cousins locating Adam Thielen in the back again of the conclusion zone from cornerback Xavien Howard for a 2-garden score. They only enhanced the edge, having said that, to 16-3 mainly because of a skipped added position.

It looked like Miami could make Minnesota pay back when it inched closer to make it a a single-possession game on a 4-lawn touchdown move from Bridgewater to Gesicki before the Waddle fumble on the ensuing travel subsequent a defensive prevent.

Thompson had extraordinary moments early, but the Dolphins could not come up with factors on their very first two drives. Very first, a sack knocked them out of discipline-goal vary. On the 2nd possession, many major performs ended up wiped absent by penalties. Two holding phone calls, an ineligible guy downfield, an offensive pass interference and a untrue start off accounted for five penalties for 36 yards on the sequence.

“It was a flag fest,” McDaniel claimed. “When I enjoy the film, I’m anticipating gamers perhaps doing way too a lot, which is a really prevalent thing. When you eliminate a few of games in a row, you start off to press.”

Miami arrived shut to scoring defensively in the 1st quarter. Edge defender Trey Bouquets strike Cousins in the end zone, but Cousins just received an incomplete go off with his physique practically horizontal.

The Dolphins remain at house subsequent 7 days for a Sunday night assembly with the Steelers the place previous coach Brian Flores returns to Tough Rock Stadium as Pittsburgh defensive analyst and the undefeated 1972 crew will be honored.

This story will be updated.

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