Ryan Fitzpatrick returns to Dolphins despite grieving deceased mother

Fitzpatrick, a 15-year veteran who is projected as the Dolphins’ starting quarterback for the 2020 season, sat out Saturdays scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium after his mother, Lori, died earlier that morning.

“On behalf of my family, I want to thank everyone who has reached out with well wishes,” Fitzpatrick said in a statement released by the team. “It truly means a lot to us.”

Flores, whose mother died of cancer before the start of the 2019 season, initially stated Fitzpatrick would take “as much time as he needs” away from the team. But on Monday Flores acknowledged that the team’s 2019 Most Valuable Player was in the facility, and expected to practice as the team began its third week of…