NFL
By: Rick
Now that the Miami Dolphins have been eliminated from the playoffs, there’s very little they have to prove for 2025. There’s still the idea that Mike McDaniel has to prove he can make sound coaching decisions to retain his job, and he may have gotten that opportunity. With 3 games left in the season, the Dolphins have announced they’ll bench starting QB Tua Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. Despite needing wins to save his job, this may be a move that sends a message to ownership as well.
First and foremost, it shows the tough call. Miami knows Tua is talented, but he’s underperforming. He’s leading the NFL in interceptions thrown and doesn’t have the same rhythms he once had. Fans can claim that as soon as WR Tyreek Hill went down this season, the Dolphins’ offense went off the rails. While that may be true, the one common theme throughout the season is opposing defenses exposing Tua’s struggles. How many different opponents have to say that Tagaovailoa can’t make it past his first read and have shut him down defensively?
Then, of course, there’s the injury risk. Not only has Tagovailoa had injury concerns from the moment he stepped on the field, but he’s also a risk after multiple concussions. That’s a big problem not only for his health, but his overall performance. To protect himself, the chances of him running in the open field are slim to none, and defenses know it. If a team can cut his first read and know he’s not going to scramble on broken plays, he’s a sitting duck behind the line of scrimmage. No one wants to see a player get hurt, but to win in this league, you have to be able to make something out of nothing, and Tua can’t do that.
So why Ewers and why now? That’s another tough call by Mike McDaniel that goes beyond wins and losses. Chances are that backup quarterback Zach Wilson might not be around next season. Now, a journeyman QB who is going to take on a veteran salary, who might not be with the team next year, probably doesn’t need his reps at quarterback, despite needing to win the game. However, if you can take a third-string quarterback and show some fight, it goes a long way. More than likely, the Dolphins need to figure out how to get cheaper at the position and will be on the hook for Tua’s contract, but they’ll need to go into the offseason figuring out if they need one backup or two. If Ewers passes his “tryout”, Miami can draft a QB in later rounds and round out their QB room. If not, they’ll likely need a veteran as well as a draft pick.
On top of that, why not turn to Ewers at a time when you face a struggling opponent? Cincinnati’s defense is struggling, to put it nicely. If you’re going to give a young QB a shot, it’s not going to be against a team that’s on top of the league when it comes to defensive play. In total defense, the Bengals rank dead last in yards allowed per game. With a run-first approach dominating Miami’s offense late in the season, do they really need the 35-40 passes per game out of a gunslinger? Especially when Tua isn’t exactly slinging it. He’s playing scared.
Mike McDaniel might be getting desperate to save his job with the Miami Dolphins. Maybe. Yet, turning to Quinn Ewers to send a message to his starting QB might not be as big a gamble when they have nothing to play for. Tua Tagovailoa said the reason he didn’t retire after his latest concussion was that he was a competitor and wanted to compete. He’s shown none of that this season. Struggling is one thing, but not taking accountability while also laughing and joking on the sideline with the playoffs on the line, in a losing effort, might have been the last straw with fans. The Dolphins might be stuck with Tua on their roster, but they don’t have to be stuck with his play on the field.
