As the Miami Dolphins gear up for their Week 17 face-off against the Cleveland Browns, the buzz surrounding quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has football fans on the edge of their seats. Tagovailoa, who was limited in the Dolphins’ practice sessions this week, finds himself among six players listed as questionable. It’s a familiar pattern, as he danced on and off the injury report the previous week, only to start against the 49ers.

The stakes are high for the Dolphins. Tagovailoa’s appearance on the field may very well hinge on the playoff hopes of the team.

Should the Los Angeles Chargers and Denver Broncos clinch victories on Saturday, Miami’s playoff dreams would evaporate, potentially influencing whether Tua suits up. This playoff predicament casts a similar shadow over fellow questionable teammates, including left tackle Terron Armstead (knee), wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Dee Eskridge (both with knee issues), star receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist), and safety Jordan Poyer (knee/finger).

Linebacker Jordyn Brooks is a glimmer of good news for Miami, ready to suit up against Cleveland after shaking off quad and knee issues he picked up in the 49ers’ clash. Meanwhile, the Dolphins have locked down cornerback Kendall Fuller (knee) and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. (knee) to the sidelines.

In Fuller’s absence, Kader Kohou is poised to step into the starting spot. Depending on the defensive lineup, Kohou might slide into the nickel role, paving the way for Storm Duck to join Jalen Ramsey on the outside.

Linebacker Tyrel Dodson is set to fill in for Walker.

Turning our gaze to the Cleveland Browns, their injury report spells out a few setbacks of their own. They’ll be missing the dynamic tight end David Njoku (knee), defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee), and wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion).

Quarterback uncertainty also brews in Cleveland with Jameis Winston nursing a shoulder injury and marked as questionable. However, coach Kevin Stefanski has already secured plans to roll with Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the starting quarterback against Miami.

Thompson-Robinson has shrugged off his own calf injury concerns and was cleared from the injury report by week’s end. Meanwhile, receiver Jerry Jeudy, managing knee and shin issues, stayed on the limited practice list, though he wasn’t tagged with a game status, leaving a bit of mystery about his potential participation.

As both teams prepare to battle it out on the gridiron, the looming injuries add a layer of tactical tension. Who steps up, and who sits out could swing the momentum for either side in a game critical to Miami—or potentially just for pride, should playoffs become out of reach.