Dolphins QB Situation in Flux as McDaniel Weighs Options After Playoff Elimination
After 14 straight starts this season, Tua Tagovailoa’s grip on the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback job is no longer a sure thing. Following Monday night’s 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers - a defeat that officially ended Miami’s playoff hopes - head coach Mike McDaniel is leaving the door open for a potential change under center.
And while McDaniel didn’t commit to a decision just yet, his tone made it clear: everything’s on the table.
“Well, I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel said Tuesday. “So for me, everything’s on the table.”
That’s a notable shift from his comments immediately after the game, when he cautioned against making any rash decisions before reviewing the tape. But after doing just that, McDaniel sounded less inclined to stick with the status quo.
The Dolphins are now 6-8, and while they showed flashes during a four-game win streak earlier this season, Monday’s loss was a sobering reminder of the inconsistency that’s plagued this team - particularly on offense. Miami managed just 93 total yards through three quarters against Pittsburgh before a late rally padded the final numbers.
Tagovailoa finished the night 22-of-28 for 283 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. But context matters.
Much of that production came with the game already out of reach. At one point, the Dolphins trailed 28-3.
And that interception? It was his league-leading 15th of the season.
That’s a sharp contrast from last year, when Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards and completed passes at the highest rate in the league. This year, his completion percentage is down five points, his interception rate has more than doubled, and he’s averaging over 70 fewer passing yards per game.
McDaniel acknowledged that quarterback play is just one piece of the puzzle, but he didn’t shy away from the reality that the position carries added weight - and scrutiny.
“Heavy is the crown,” McDaniel said. “There’s misplaced blame, and it’s not always one person’s fault.
Generally, it’s not one person’s fault. But realistically, the team deserves to have the best chance to win the football game.”
That’s where the quarterback discussion gets interesting.
Behind Tagovailoa on the depth chart are Zach Wilson - the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft - and rookie Quinn Ewers, a seventh-round selection. Wilson has started 33 NFL games but has played just 23 snaps this season. Ewers has logged 12 snaps in total.
McDaniel made it clear he’s not looking to turn Sunday’s game against the Bengals into a preseason-style audition. Any change at quarterback would be made with one goal in mind: winning.
“I think I’ll consider the quarterback that will give us the best chance to win,” McDaniel said. “I won’t do it at the expense of turning everybody’s game into a trial practice.”
That’s a key point. Despite being out of the playoff picture, McDaniel isn’t treating the final three games as throwaways. He’s still focused on competing, and he expects his players - and his quarterback - to meet a certain standard.
“You really have a standard,” he said. “And when that standard is not being met, something’s got to give.”
The Dolphins’ offensive numbers reflect that struggle. They currently rank 23rd in points, 25th in total yards, 26th in passing yards, and 14th in rushing.
During their recent four-game win streak, the ground game carried the load - outgaining the passing attack in each of those victories. But when the run game stalls and the team needs to lean on the quarterback, the results haven’t been there.
McDaniel didn’t offer a timeline for naming a starter for Sunday’s matchup with Cincinnati, though he did say more clarity could come soon as the team finalizes its game plan. With both teams out of playoff contention - the Bengals sit at 4-10 - the stakes are more about pride and evaluation than postseason implications.
Still, for Tagovailoa, this is a pivotal moment. After a 2023 season that saw him emerge as one of the league’s top passers, 2025 has been a frustrating step back.
Injuries aren’t to blame this time - it’s been performance. And while McDaniel isn’t pointing fingers, he’s also not ignoring what’s happening on the field.
“At this stage of the season, my expectation was that we’d have a better performance,” McDaniel said.
Whether that leads to a quarterback change remains to be seen. But one thing’s clear: the Dolphins’ margin for error is gone, and McDaniel is searching for answers - even if that means making a bold move at the game’s most important position.