The Miami Dolphins are making a bold move at quarterback, benching Tua Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Cincinnati Bengals. It’s a decision that’s been brewing since Monday night’s frustrating loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers - and one that head coach Mike McDaniel all but confirmed was on the table.
“I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel said Tuesday. “And so for me, everything’s on the table.”
That wasn’t just coach-speak. Now, it’s official: Tua is headed to the bench, and Ewers, a seventh-round pick from the 2025 draft, is getting the nod.
Let’s be clear - this isn’t just about one bad night. Tua’s numbers tell the story of a season that’s gone sideways.
He’s thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns, but the 15 interceptions - most in the NFL - have been costly. And the advanced metrics back it up.
Among 33 qualifying quarterbacks this season, Tagovailoa ranks 26th in EPA per play and 30th in success rate. That’s not just a slump - that’s a prolonged stretch of inefficiency in an offense that was expected to be one of the league’s most explosive.
Monday night’s game was a microcosm of the struggles. Tua managed just 65 passing yards through three quarters, and while he added 188 more in the fourth, most of that came after the game was already out of reach. The Dolphins scored just three points in the first 45 minutes before finally finding the end zone twice late - too little, too late.
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a team that had playoff expectations and a quarterback who, not long ago, looked like the centerpiece of the franchise’s future. But McDaniel and the Dolphins are clearly looking for a spark, and they’re turning to Ewers to provide it.
The rookie out of Texas wasn’t expected to see the field this soon - not as a seventh-rounder - but here he is, thrust into the spotlight against a Bengals team fighting for playoff positioning. It’s a high-pressure spot, but also a massive opportunity for Ewers to show what he’s got.
As for Tua, this moment could be a turning point. Whether it’s a temporary benching or the start of a longer-term shift remains to be seen. But for now, the Dolphins are making a change - and hoping it’s the one that can salvage their season.