Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has reportedly been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns with a hip injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Schefter noted Tagovailoa "still is pushing to play," but would be replaced by Tyler Huntley if he cannot take part in the game.

Tagovailoa missed four games earlier this season due to a concussion suffered during a Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. He cleared the concussion protocol ahead of Week 8.

The previous injury marked the third diagnosed concussion of his NFL career, including two suffered during the 2022 season. Tagovailoa was also diagnosed with a concussion while playing for Alabama.

Tagovailoa told reporters ahead of Week 8 that he had been free of concussion symptoms since the day after the loss to the Bills.

He also said he would make the "personal choice" not wear a Guardian Cap, the soft-shell helmet covering that the NFL has reported is associated with decreased concussion risk. ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques noted that Tagovailoa wears a specially-designed quarterback helmet with a higher safety grade than a regular helmet covered by the Guardian Cap.

After earning his first Pro Bowl nomination by leading the NFL with 4,624 passing yards in 2023, Tagovailoa started out the 2024 campaign by completing fewer than 65 percent of his passes for 483 yards, two touchdowns and three picks prior to his Week 2 concussion.

Huntley and Skylar Thompson earned starts during his IR stint but were unable to spark the Dolphins' offense in Tagovailoa's offense.

In four games without Tagovailoa, the Dolphins scored 40 total points and recorded a 1-3 record. Through Week 7 the Dolphins were averaging 11.7 points per game, the fewest in the NFL and a significant drop from last season's average of 27.9 points.

The Dolphins' scoring rates recovered quickly following Tagovailoa's return. He has upped his pass completion rate to over 72 percent while throwing for 2,867 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 starts this season.

Miami's struggles without Tagovailoa made it clear that this team's faint hopes of a playoff bid hinge on their starter's availability. Given his injury history, the Dolphins will also need to consider Tagovailoa's long-term health when managing his return to the field.