Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle formed one of the most productive pass-catching combinations in NFL history for the Miami Dolphins during the NFL’s 2022 regular season. They combined for 3,066 receiving yards, the third-most in one season by a pair of teammates in NFL history.

Hill set Miami records with 119 receptions for 1,710 yards. Waddle’s 1,356 yards on 75 receptions rank third on the Dolphins’ single-season list.

But they got the bulk of those statistics with Tua Tagovailoa as Miami’s quarterback, and when the Dolphins play the Buffalo Bills in the first round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, the former Alabama All-American will be sidelined by a concussion for the third game in a row.

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“A lot of hard work that goes into the season,” said Waddle, who’s also a former Crimson Tide standout. “The ultimate goal is to get into the tournament, so now we’re in there. We’re ready to go out there and compete.”

Tagovaila entered the NFL’s concussion protocol for the second time this season on Dec. 25, and with backup Teddy Bridgewater dealing with a finger injury, seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson will start at quarterback for the Dolphins on Sunday.

Miami’s quarterback injuries have put Thompson on the field for 211 snaps, and he completed 20-of-31 passes for 152 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions as the Dolphins made the playoffs with an 11-6 victory over the New York Jets in the regular-season finale on Sunday.

“Skylar was balling,” Waddle said. “He came in, really kept his composure and had control of the huddle. He just really showcased his attributes that we all know and love him for. He is here for a reason.”

But the receiving duo’s stats with Tagovailoa throwing the football are better than when his backups are doing the passing, especially for Waddle. Waddle caught eight touchdown passes and Hill caught seven during the regular season, and Tagovailoa delivered all of them.

In Tagovailoa’s 12 full games this season, Hill averaged 7.0 receptions for 104.0 yards. In the other five games, the former West Alabama standout averaged 7.0 receptions for 92.4 yards. His average gain per reception dropped from 14.9 to 13.2.

In Tagovailoa’s 12 full games, Waddle averaged 4.7 receptions for 89.1 yards. In the other five games, Waddle averaged 3.8 receptions for 57.4 yards. His average gain per reception dropped from 19.1 to 15.1.

Hill said the Dolphins could get the job done regardless of the quarterback.

“It doesn’t matter because we’ve got the playmakers to do whatever it takes to move the ball,” Hill said. “We’ve also got the guys up front to be able to do whatever we want.”

The Dolphins and Bills split their AFC East series in the regular season. Miami won 21-19 on Sept. 25, and Buffalo won 32-29 on Dec. 17.

But Tagovailoa played quarterback in those games as Waddle had 216 yards and one touchdown on seven receptions. Hill had 11 receptions for 103 yards and one touchdown against Buffalo this season. In last year’s playoffs, Hill had 11 receptions for 150 yards and one touchdown in the Kansas City Chiefs’ 42-36 victory over the Bills.

“Whatever it takes, man,” Hill said. “If that means for me to go out there and go crazy, whatever it takes. But if it means for me to go out there and block for my teammates and be on my assignments and no (missed assignments) for myself and the rest of the receiver room, then as long as we come out with a ‘W’ it doesn’t matter if it’s 100 yards or 1 yard, one catch or 10 catches. It doesn’t matter.”

When Miami beat the Jets on Sunday, the Dolphins got their first victory without Tagovailoa this season. Miami coach Mike McDaniel was asked this week if he thought the team might “play” for Tagovailoa against Buffalo.

“I know there are people that are really motivated by doing right by his contribution, for sure,” McDaniel said. “I think guys have a lot of reasons to play this game, specifically because it was not easy to earn it. They went through a lot of things. There was some adversity down the stretch of the season, that as much as you look down on a five-game losing streak, I see a lot of mental fortitude and impressive, really, an impressive collective locker room to find a way to get in, and they want to do right by that as well, so there’s a lot of different reasons to play.

“I would say that’s probably one of those reasons for multiple people in their mind is making sure that we take care of the team the way he has, and that’s in a multitude of ways, for sure.”

Although he didn’t join the Dolphins on the sidelines, Tagovailoa attended Sunday’s victory over the Jets and greeted his teammates as they came off the field.

“He told me he was really proud of me,” Thompson said. “For what Tua has experienced this year, I know — I can only imagine — how hard it is for him. I just commend his leadership and the way that he’s treated me throughout this whole process. It’d be hard to do, and he’s been very supportive of me and everybody in this locker room, considering all the stuff that he’s going through, so I think it shows the type of person and leader he is. It’s meant a lot to me, for sure.”

Without Tagovailoa, Miami is the biggest underdog in the first round of the NFL playoffs. This week, McDaniel didn’t address the possibility of Tagovailoa returning next week if the Dolphins upset Buffalo.

“The current stage is the same as it was last,” McDaniel said. “He’s been around and been good, and I’m just worried about his day-to-day health. I’ll let you know when it does advance, but besides checking on him and how he’s doing, it’s a big-time life adjustment when you go from playing to being out. That’s for every player that’s injured, so you try to make sure that they’re still feeling as involved as possible in general.”

The Dolphins and Bills square off at noon CST Sunday at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. CBS will televise the game.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.