Miami Dolphins Have Benched QB Tua Tagovailoa Rookie Quinn Ewers Will Start
It has mostly been a down season for the southern Florida team. Questions have swirled around the head coach and the franchise quarterback. However, today at least one of those questions have been answered. The Miami Dolphins have benched QB Tua Tagovailoa and rookie Quinn Ewers will start in his place. This Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals will be Ewers first start. He is being promoted over five-year veteran Zach Wilson. Who spent his first three years in the league with the New York Jets.
The Dolphins started well in the first half but were no match against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half on Monday night. Tagovailoa threw his 15th interception in the 28-15 loss to the Steelers which was good enough to make it a career high in interceptions. And the loss on Monday eliminated the Dolphins (6-8) from playoff contention. Starting with the third quarter Miami was out gained 160 yards to minus 20. During that period the score stretched to a 28-3 lead for the home team.
His benching is not surprising as head coach Mike McDaniel was asked in his Tuesday press conference if he was considering a quarterback change this week. McDaniel said, “I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough. And so for me everything is on the table.” In the Steelers game Tagovailoa completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards and an interception through three quarters. Although he threw two touchdowns, they both came in the fourth quarter when Pittsburgh was already well ahead. He finished the game with 253 yards but hadn’t thrown for more than 173 yards since Week 9.
Miami Dolphins Have Benched QB Tua Tagovailoa Rookie Quinn Ewers Will Start
He may be benched for now but the Dolphins will have to figure out a way to get better play from him. Otherwise they will have an expensive mistake on their hands. In 2024, Tagovailoa signed a four-year $212,400,00 contract. ESPN provided a breakdown of what he could make going forward:
“Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million in 2026, and on March 15 next year, $3 million of his 2027 salary will become guaranteed. If the Dolphins were to release him next year, the move would result in a $99 million dead cap charge. Designating the move as a post-June 1 release would lower that charge to $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.”
Head coach Mike McDaniel said Wilson will be Ewers backup. But regardless they still need Tua to play better going forward.
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