Details on impressive Tagovailoa, Mostert feats for Dolphins. And a Tyreek Hill update

Some Dolphins nuggets at each position on offense, heading into Sunday’s home game against Dallas (4:25 p.m., Fox):

QUARTERBACK

After Sunday’s strong performance against the Jets, Tua Tagovailoa ranks second in the NFL in passer rating among qualifiers at 106.0 (behind Brock Purdy’s 119); first in passing yards (3921); first in completion percentage at 71; and tied for fifth in touchdown passes with 25.

The 71 completion percentage would set a franchise single season record if maintained, beating Ryan Fitzpatrick’s 68.5 in 2020.

Per the Dolphins, Miami has won 24 of the past 34 games started by Tagovailoa, dating back to Nov. 21, 2021. That’s the third-best winning percentage (.706) among NFL starting QBs (min. 20 starts) in that span.

Miami is now 19-5 all-time in home games started by Tagovailoa, including 15-2 over his past 17 home starts. His .792 home winning percentage is the second-best among any active NFL quarterback with a minimum of 20 starts, behind only Aaron Rodgers’ .799, almost all for Green Bay.

Tagovailoa’s 87.5 completion percentage on Sunday (21 for 24) was the second highest of his career.

He now has five passing plays of 60-plus yards this season, two more than any other NFL quarterback.

He needs just 79 passing yards this season to become the third Dolphins quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season, joining Dan Marino and Ryan Tannehill.

On Sunday, backup quarterback Mike White played eight of the team’s 61 offensive snaps when the margin was lopsided late in the game.

RUNNING BACK

On Sunday, Raheem Mostert had more carries than De’Von Achane (15 to 9) and played more offensive snaps (33 to 24). Jeff Wilson Jr. played eight offensive snaps. Fullback Alec Ingold played 19.

Mostert is third in the league with 966 rushing yards, behind San Francisco’s Christian McCaffrey (1,292) and Buffalo’s James Cook (968).

Besides setting Dolphins franchise single-season records for rushing touchdowns (18) and overall touchdowns (20), Mostert also became the second-oldest player in NFL history to score 20 touchdowns in a season. Only Washington’s John Riggins, who had 24 touchdowns in 1983 at 34, was older.

Also, Mostert is the NFL’s first player to score 20 touchdowns in a season since 2021, when both Austin Ekeler and Jonathan Taylor accomplished that.

Mostert joined Priest Holmes and LaGarrette Blount as the only undrafted players since 1967 to rush for at least 18 touchdowns in a single season. They’re also the only undrafted players since ‘67 to score 20 touchdowns in a season.

WIDE RECEIVER

With Tyreek Hill sidelined, the Dolphins allocated their receiver snaps this week: Cedrick Wilson Jr. 47 (out of a possible 61), Jaylen Waddle 41, Braxton Berrios 24, Robbie Chosen 23, River Cracraft 8 and Chase Claypool 5.

As for Hill’s status, Mike McDaniel said Hill was “pretty close” to playing on Sunday, and CBS reported both Hill and the Dolphins are hopeful he will play against Dallas.

Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on his weekly WSVN-Fox 7 Sunday night segment that not playing against the Jets “was Tyreek’s decision and I’m sure he weighed a lot of different opinions from his family, to his coaches, to the trainers to all the people that he works with. But ultimately it boiled down to Tyreek.

“And you have to respect Tyreek because he put, in my mind, the team ahead of his individual goals. Missing this game may allow Tyreek to be available later in the year against perhaps better teams or playoff teams because you just don’t know what would have happened if he tried to play.

“It was a really risky proposition. Definitely felt like Tyreek and the team made the best decision by not playing today. In hindsight, looked like a great decision because the team won, and they won handily, and Tyreek... was happy the team won.”

Here was McDaniel’s answer on the decision not to play Hill against the Jets:

“That wasn’t the easiest decision, but when you look at what’s the best decision for the team and what’s the best decision for him, it was a collective decision that when you’re faced with, all right, do we press forward and just hope or do we do the thing that the individual player and the team needs for the season.

“It became easier in the moment just because we have the right well-intentioned people that are looking at this as their responsibility to protect players first and foremost.”

Hill had at least one MRI last week.

As for Waddle, he will enter Week 16 needing just 36 yards over the final three games to become the first player in team history to record three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons.

TIGHT END

Durham Smythe played 43 snaps and his four receptions tied a season high. His four targets were his most since Oct. 1 against Buffalo.

Rookie Julian Hill played 22 and Tyler Kroft 8.

OFFENSIVE LINE

With right tackle Austin Jackson departing in the second half with an oblique injury after 29 snaps, Kendall Lamm played 32 snaps.

Liam Eichenberg -- who was commended by Dolphins people for playing through a calf injury -- played 58 of 61 snaps at center before Jonotthan Harrison took over for three late snaps in his Dolphins debut.

Left tackle Terron Armstead, playing through ankle and knee injuries, played 53 snaps, with Kion Smith logging eight snaps late.

Per Pro Football Focus, Jackson, Eichenberg and guard Lester Cotton each permitted a sack on Sunday. Cotton and Eichenberg each allowed three pressures.

From a health standpoint, there are concerns now with Jackson, who tried to play through an oblique injury but ultimately couldn’t. Keep in mind that linebacker Jaelan Phillips missed three of four games earlier this season with a similar back/oblique injury. [UPDATE: McDaniel said Jackson’s oblique injury is not as serious as Phillips’ was.]

Robert Hunt has missed the past two games after re-aggravating a hamstring injury that sidelined him two games earlier this season. McDaniel said his status this week is uncertain.

OFFENSIVE GRADES

Among Dolphins who played at least 10 offensive snaps on Sunday, PFF rated Waddle, Armstead, Achane, Tagovailoa and Mostert as the top five performers. Cotton was rated the lowest.