Thompson to start. And updates on injuries, Dolphins’ playoff picture after NFL change

Rookie seventh-round quarterback Skylar Thompson will start for the Dolphins on Sunday against the visiting Jets, coach Mike McDaniel said Friday.

McDaniel said Teddy Bridgewater’s dislocated pinkie on his throwing hand has healed to the point that he should be able to back up Thompson on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., Fox).

“Teddy, I saw him throw, initial baby steps of throwing,” McDaniel said. “I feel like he’ll get there” to be able to be the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday. Bridgewater did not throw a pass during the brief portion of practice open to reporters on Friday.

Thompson, this season, is 40 for 74 for 382 yards, one touchdown, three interceptions and a 56.2 passer rating.

“Skylar has an outstanding week of practice,” McDaniel said. “He was diligent, communicative from the onset.”

Tua Tagovailoa is out Sunday; he hasn’t been cleared to do any on-field work, which is among the final stages of concussion protocol.

If the Dolphins want a third quarterback on the active roster for Sunday’s game, they could elevate veteran Mike Glennon, who was added to the practice squad this week.

With Mike White injured, the Jets are starting veteran Joe Flacco against the Dolphins. Zach Wilson will be New York’s No. 2 quarterback on Sunday.

Flacco, this season, has thrown for 902 yards with five touchdowns, three interceptions and a 77 passer rating in four appearances. He’s 1-2 as a starter this season.

“He’s still one of the best pure throwers you see on tape,” McDaniel said.

Flacco was 24 for 39 for 291 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 101 rating in a 24-17 Dolphins win against the Jets 14 months ago in New Jersey.

Tagovailoa was very good that day. The Dolphins defense must be better than that against Flacco on Sunday, with Tagovailoa out.

The Jets will be without three starting offensive linemen Sunday.

MORE FROM McDANIEL

▪ McDaniel said he’s not sure if left tackle Terron Armstead will be able to play Sunday. Asked if he will listed as out or doubtful, McDaniel said whether he’s listed as “doubtful or questionable, [it’s] something we’ll take up to the game, not just competitive advantage, but [being] real.”

[Update: Armstead was listed as doubtful on Friday afternoon].

Armstead is dealing with four injuries (hip, toe, knee, pectoral), and McDaniel said the lower-body injuries are the ones that are limiting Armstead at the moment.

For the third day in a row, Armstead wasn’t seen at practice on Friday.

McDaniel said he’s optimistic about cornerback Xavien Howard (knee) and linebacker Bradley Chubb (ankle, hand) being able to play Sunday. He expects both to be listed as questionable. Both missed last Sunday’s game against New England.

▪ Receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., the Dolphins’ primary punt returner during the second half of the season, is doubtful for Sunday with a hip injury.

Asked about his receptiveness to using Tyreek Hill as a returner, McDaniel said there are a couple of options and “Tyreek is definitely one of those options. Our plan is to do the thing that works.”

River Cracraft would seem to be another option.

▪ McDaniel, on the team’s five-game losing streak: “They all feel that shouldn’t be the case. We tried in house to pinpoint those reasons.”

PLAYOFF UPDATE

The NFL’s decision Thursday to cancel this past Monday’s Bengals-Bills game reduced the Dolphins’ potential playoff opponents to two teams: Kansas City and Buffalo.

The Dolphins — if they make the playoffs — would play a postseason game at Kansas City next weekend if the Chiefs lose to the Raiders on Saturday.

If the Dolphins make the playoffs, they would play a playoff game at Buffalo if the Chiefs beat the Raiders on Saturday.

The Dolphins need a win against the Jets and a Patriots loss in Buffalo to make the playoffs.

So in any scenario where the Dolphins make the playoffs, the Chiefs and Bills would be the top two seeds, with order to be determined this weekend.

The Chiefs would clinch the No. 1 seed with a win against the Raiders, and the Bills would be the No. 2 seed if they also win on Sunday in that scenario. The seventh seed - whether it’s the Patriots, Dolphins, Steelers or Jaguars - would play the No. 2 seed.

If the Chiefs lose to the Raiders, the Bills can claim the No. 1 seed by beating New England. In that case, Kansas City would be the No. 2 seed and would play the seventh seed.

Though the Bengals can still claim the No. 2 seed, the Dolphins would not make the playoffs in that scenario because the Dolphins need a Bills win against the Patriots. Buffalo stays ahead of Cincinnati provided the Bills beat the Patriots.

Even if Kansas City wins at Las Vegas to clinch the top seed and a first-round bye, Buffalo will still have motivation on Sunday.

A Bills win would clinch the No. 2 seed for Buffalo if the Chiefs win Saturday. And if the Bills and Chiefs both win this weekend, a potential Buffalo-Kansas City AFC Championship game would be played at a neutral site, according to an NFL competition committee proposal that owners planned to vote on Friday.

If Kansas City wins on Saturday and the Bills lose on Sunday, then a potential Chiefs-Bills playoff game would be played in Kansas City.