EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa is out for the Miami Dolphins in a must-win game against the New York Jets on Sunday and Tyler Huntley will start at quarterback in his place.
Tagovailoa was listed among the Dolphins' inactives about 90 minutes before the game, which Miami (8-8) needs to win — and get some help elsewhere — to keep its playoff hopes alive.
Tagovailoa will miss his second game in a row with a hip injury. He was listed as doubtful to play on the team's final injury report on Friday after coach Mike McDaniel said the quarterback was “unlikely” to suit up. Tagovailoa's status for a potential playoff game was uncertain.
Huntley started the Dolphins' 20-3 victory over Cleveland last week and completed more than 80% of his passes for 225 yards with one TD toss and a TD run. He also led Miami in rushing with 52 yards on seven attempts.
The Dolphins need a win and a loss by Denver (9-7) at home to Kansas City (15-1), which is resting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, to reach the playoffs for the third straight year. If Miami loses or ties the Jets and Denver loses, Cincinnati (9-8) would get the AFC's final postseason spot.
Miami wide receivers Jaylen Waddle (knee) and Tyreek Hill (wrist/illness) were both active after being listed as questionable. Waddle returns after missing the past two games.
Among the Dolphins' other inactives were wide receivers Dee Eskridge and Erik Ezukanma, offensive linemen Andrew Meyer and Braeden Daniels, and linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. and Mohamed Kamara.
The Jets were without right tackle Morgan Moses (knee) and nickel cornerback Michael Carter II (back) among their inactives. Cornerback Sauce Gardner was ruled out Friday and placed on injured reserve Saturday with a hamstring injury.
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Miami Dolphins quarterback Tyler Huntley (18) smiles during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stands on the field before an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Richard)
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.
Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.
“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.
"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.
Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.
Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.
Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.
At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.
Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.
Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.
After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.
“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”
Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.
Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.
His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.
“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”
Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.
FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)