Tua Tagovailoa odds: If winless Dolphins lose Thursday vs. Jaguars, rookie could get first start Week 4

NFL teams that start 0-2 have made the playoffs a handful of times, but playing extra football is almost unprecedented for teams that begin a season at 0-3. Thus, it stands to reason the Miami Dolphins could bench veteran journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and start the Tua Tagovailoa Era in Week 4 should the Fins fall to 0-3 on Thursday night by losing in Jacksonville. The Jags are 3-point favorites on the William Hill NFL odds.

Ideally if a coach has to turn to a rookie quarterback and it's not out of training camp, the move happens following a bye week so the young QB gets in a full week of practice with first-team reps, etc. Miami's bye isn't until Week 11, and it's highly unlikely that Coach Brian Flores waits that long to go with Tua – unless, of course, the Dolphins start winning.

Week 4 could be the ideal second-choice for Flores because it's almost like a mini-bye week after playing Thursday and the Dolphins will be at home – albeit against a very good Seattle Seahawks team. Fitzpatrick's performance vs. the Jags will determine everything. He was awful Week 1 in a loss to New England but pretty good in last Sunday's close defeat to Buffalo. Dolphins fans in attendance – about 13,000 were allowed into Hard Rock Stadium – could be heard chanting "Tua, Tua" during the game.

One can understand the Miami fans wanting to see the No. 5 overall pick as two other first-round rookie QBs, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow (No. 1 overall) and the LA Chargers' Justin Herbert (No. 6), already have made their debuts and played well.

One other deciding factor on if Tua were to start Week 4 could be the status of Miami's offensive line after the Jacksonville game. If a few guys get hurt, the Fins likely wouldn't put their future out there and risk injury. Tua was very injury-prone as it was at Alabama. He hasn't played in a game since he sustained a dislocated hip and posterior wall fracture on Nov. 16, 2019, vs Mississippi State.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Will the Dolphins start Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback in Week 4 vs. Seattle?

• Yes -130
• No +100

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