Fitzpatrick completed five of eight passes for 58 yards without a touchdown or interception in Thursday's 22-13 preseason loss to the Patriots.

EDGE Analysis

Fitzpatrick's two drives ended with a punt and a missed field goal. He remains a step ahead of Taylor Heinicke -- who completed nine of 15 passes for 86 yards -- in the competition for Washington's starting quarterback job heading into Week 2 of preseason against the Bengals. Expect Fitzpatrick to start that game as well.

Coach Ron Rivera said Fitzpatrick will need to compete with Taylor Heinicke for the starting quarterback job, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Rivera also mentioned Kyle Allen, who is working his way back from a severe ankle injury. Neither Allen nor Heinicke seems especially likely to stand out this summer, but Rivera did make it clear Fitzpatrick won't be handed a starting job. While the 38-year-old took most of the first-team reps Wednesday, per Ben Standig of the Athletic, it sounds like Heinicke will also get some work with the starters during training camp.

Fitzpatrick said he's already built chemistry with his pass catchers and expects to spread the ball around this season, NBC Sports Washington reports.

EDGE Analysis

Terry McLaurin will be the focal point of the passing game, but he should have more help around him this year after Washington acquired Curtis Samuel, Adam Humphries and third-round pick Dyami Brown in the offseason. On the other hand, Fitzpatrick was the only significant addition at quarterback, joining 2020 holdovers Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen (leg) and Steven Montez. Given those alternatives, the 38-year-old Fitzpatrick should have some margin for error in the starting role, especially early in the season while he's still getting the hang of a new system under offensive coordinator Scott Turner.

Coach Ron Rivera confirmed Fitzpatrick will come to Washington as the No. 1 quarterback, though Rivera also said he expects competition at the position, Rhiannon Walker of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

We can probably write the second part off as coach-speak if Washington enters training camp with Kyle Allen (ankle) and Taylor Heinicke (shoulder) as the only other options at quarterback. The upcoming NFL Draft is where there's some potential for things to get complicated, as Washington can still make a good argument for selecting a young QB within the first few rounds. A rookie wouldn't necessarily push Fitzpatrick aside, but there would at least be some added pressure if the veteran were to struggle early in the season. It shouldn't be for lack of weapons if that happens, as Washington has signed WRs Curtis Samuel and Adam Humphries since adding Fitzpatrick in mid-March.

Fitzpatrick agreed to a one-year, $10 million contract with Washington on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 38-year-old spent the past two seasons in Miami and appeared in nine games during 2020 while completing 69 percent of his passes for 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions and also rushing for 151 yards and two more scores. Fitzpatrick began last season as the starter for the Dolphins before Tua Tagovailoa took over the job, but the journeyman now is on track to start for Washington in 2021. The Football Team recently cut Alex Smith, and next man up Taylor Heinicke (shoulder) remains wholly unproven despite a solid playoff performance against the Buccaneers. It will be Fitzpatrick's ninth different team as he enters his 17th season in the NFL.

Fitzpatrick plans to play football in 2021, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Retirement rumors have been circulating, but Rapoport suggests they aren't accurate. Fitzpatrick, an impending free agent, figures to search outside Miami for a starting job, as his performance in recent seasons has left little doubt he's one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, he's 38 years old and isn't a top-10 QB, so most teams with vacancies at the position figure to view him as a fallback option rather than a priority.

The Dolphins activated Fitzpatrick (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

EDGE Analysis

Considering the timing of this transaction, Fitzpatrick likely would have been unavailable in the wild-card round if the Dolphins had netted one of three wild-card spots in the AFC part of the postseason bracket. In his age-38 season, he played well when called upon, logging time in nine games and starting seven of them on his way to 2,091 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions on 69-percent passing. He enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent, but considering his efforts and Tua Tagovailoa's struggles at times as a rookie, Miami may seek to bring back Fitzpatrick as a mentor for the young QB and as a proven commodity at the position.

The Dolphins placed Fitzpatrick (illness) on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.

EDGE Analysis

Fitzpatrick tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday after practicing in full Wednesday, an indication that his positive result came as a surprise for the Dolphins. The team signed Jake Rudock to replace him as the No. 2 option behind Tua Tagovailoa for Sunday's game against the Bills. Cameron Wolfe of ESPN notes that Fitzpatrick could be in jeopardy of missing Miami's first playoff game should the team earn a postseason berth, due to the timetable required for him to garner full clearance.

Fitzpatrick tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and won't be available for Sunday's game against the Bills, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

EDGE Analysis

Assuming the Dolphins confirm Fitzpatrick's positive test result, he'll be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Miami will add Jake Rudock to its 53-man roster to serve as Tua Tagovailoa's backup Week 17.

Fitzpatrick (undisclosed) wasn't spotted at practice Thursday, Cameron Wolfe of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's unclear why Fitzpatrick missed practice Thursday, but the QB practiced Wednesday, so Wolfe indicates that it doesn't appear to be injury-related. If he's available for Sunday's game against the Bills, Fitzpatrick -- who finished up Miami's Week 16 win over the Raiders -- is slated to back up Tua Tagovailoa.