The Miami Dolphins made waves this week with a bold quarterback shake-up - benching Tua Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers. It’s a move that sent shockwaves through the locker room and across the league, not just because of what it means for the Dolphins’ immediate future, but because of what it says about where this franchise is heading.
Jaylen Waddle, one of Tagovailoa’s closest teammates and top targets, offered a level-headed take on the situation Thursday. “It’s kind of the nature of the business,” Waddle said, acknowledging the tough reality of a season that hasn’t lived up to expectations.
“Any time the team’s not having success, change is made. A couple of weeks ago, s---, I was on the chopping block.”
Jaylen Waddle reacts to Tua Tagovailoa’s benching
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) December 18, 2025
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That kind of honesty - raw, unfiltered, and grounded in the hard truths of the NFL - reflects the mood inside the building. Miami came into the season with playoff hopes and a high-powered offense. But after a deflating loss to the Steelers on Monday night officially knocked them out of postseason contention, the organization decided it was time to hit reset at the most important position on the field.
Still, Waddle made it clear that Tagovailoa isn’t checking out. Far from it.
“Tua’s a competitor, and he loves this team,” he said. “He loves going out there and competing with his guys, and I think he’s going to do what's necessary to make sure everyone’s prepared.
Quinn, receivers - he’s still got this leadership role of the team.”
That’s a key point. Even as the torch is passed to the rookie, Tua remains a respected voice in the locker room. His leadership, even in a reduced role, could be crucial as Miami tries to finish the season on a strong note and evaluate what they’ve got in Ewers.
Running back De’Von Achane echoed that sentiment, choosing to focus on the team’s next steps rather than dwell on the decision. “I wouldn’t say I had a reaction,” Achane said. “Quinn [is] ready, and he’s showing that he’s ready, so that's who we going out with on Sunday.”
Achane also took a moment to acknowledge Tagovailoa’s impact. “Tua’s my brother,” he said.
“Obviously, you know, talk to him and see where his head’s at. But same time, you gotta game to play.”
That’s the reality in the NFL. The games keep coming, and so do the decisions.
And this one wasn’t made lightly. Tagovailoa hasn’t looked like himself this season.
His numbers reflect that: 30th out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks in QBR (36.7) and a league-leading 15 interceptions. That kind of production, especially from a player with a massive contract and franchise-level expectations, simply wasn’t cutting it.
Head coach Mike McDaniel hinted after Monday’s loss that change could be coming, and now we know what he meant. But even with Tua’s struggles, the decision to leapfrog backup Zach Wilson and hand the keys to a rookie like Ewers caught many off guard.
Wilson himself admitted to being “frustrated” by the move, though he also expressed support for Ewers, who will get his first NFL start this Sunday when the 6-8 Dolphins host the 4-10 Bengals.
This is a big moment - not just for Ewers, who’s stepping into the spotlight in Week 16, but for a Dolphins franchise trying to figure out what comes next. Is Ewers the future?
Can Tua bounce back? What does this mean for McDaniel’s long-term vision?
De’Von Achane reacts to benching of Tua Tagovailoa
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) December 18, 2025
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There’s still plenty to unpack. But one thing’s clear: the Dolphins are turning the page. Now we’ll see what the next chapter looks like.