The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed on Wednesday.
Seventh-round rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers will start in his place against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
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“I think Quinn gives this team the best chance to win,” McDaniel said.
Zach Wilson will be Ewers’ backup and Tagovailoa will be relegated to No. 3 on the depth chart.
“It wasn’t an easy thing for him to hear. It was a tough conversation,” McDaniel said of Tagovailoa’s reaction. “But he exhibited why he’s a captain. He is going to help Quinn prepare for his first start.
“Disappointed,” Tagovailoa told reporters on Wednesday about his reaction. “I’m not happy about it, but it’s something out of my control.”
Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel hinted at a possible Tagovailoa benching Tuesday, when he called out the team’s poor quarterback play during its Monday night loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While Tagovailoa’s numbers weren’t awful, he put the team in a hole early by throwing his league-leading 15th interception.
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Tagovailoa finished the contest 22-of-28 passing for 253 yards and two touchdowns. He threw one interception and was sacked four times in the 28-15 loss to the Steelers.
When asked why he thinks the change is being made now, Tagovailoa said, “I would say the biggest thing, and being honest with myself as well, has been my performance. I haven’t been performing up to the level and the capabilities that I have in the past.”
When asked about the quarterback position Tuesday, McDaniel said “everything was on the table.” It wasn’t the first time the coach made that exact comment this season. He also refused to commit to Tagovailoa following the team’s Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns. McDaniel quickly changed his mind after looking at the Week 7 tape. But with Tagovailoa continuing to turn the ball over, McDaniel decided it was finally time for a change.
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With Tagovailoa presumably done for the rest of the season, he’ll finish the year with a 67.7 completion percentage, 2,660 passing yards and 20 touchdowns.
When McDaniel discussed the possibility of benching Tagovailoa on Tuesday, it was unclear which quarterback would replace the former Alabama star. The Dolphins have shifted their quarterback depth chart throughout the regular season, with Wilson and Ewers each seeing time in the No. 2 spot behind Tagovailoa.
Ewers was selected with the 231st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite his low draft status, Ewers has seen some playing time this season. He appeared during that Week 7 game against the Browns, completing 5 of 8 passes for 53 yards. While Wilson was initially brought in to serve as Tagovailoa’s backup, Ewers showed enough promise during camp and in the preseason to earn the start in Week 16.
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The Dolphins were eliminated from playoff contention Monday night, but could still impact the race with games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots upcoming.
Though the playoffs are no longer a consideration, the team’s final three games could mean quite a bit to McDaniel. The 42-year-old head coach has been rumored to be on the hot seat all season and is likely coaching for his job down the stretch, though it might be too late for that now.
No matter how Ewers plays, McDaniel’s fate might already be sealed. But with nothing left to lose, McDaniel is going to make a last-ditch effort to salvage what’s left of a disastrous season and potentially save his job.
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