The Miami Dolphins are shifting gears as they head into the final stretch of the 2025 season, and the moves they’re making signal a clear focus on the future.
Let’s start with the quarterback room, where the Dolphins have benched Tua Tagovailoa and bumped him all the way down to third-string. In his place, rookie Quinn Ewers is stepping into the starting role.
It’s a bold move, but with Miami officially out of the playoff picture, the decision is less about salvaging this season and more about seeing what the team has heading into 2026. Ewers now gets a three-game audition to show if he might be the long-term answer under center.
The changes don’t stop at quarterback. Veteran linebacker Matthew Judon has been released, opening the door for younger pass rushers to get more snaps. Judon, a proven playmaker, had been a staple of the defense, but with the postseason out of reach, Miami is clearly prioritizing player development and evaluating its depth.
On special teams, there’s a bit of intrigue brewing. Kicker Jason Sanders has been designated to return from injured reserve and practiced for the first time this season on Thursday.
Sanders has been sidelined since training camp with a hip injury, but his return to the practice field is a positive sign. The Dolphins now have a 21-day window to activate him to the 53-man roster.
Sanders has been a reliable leg for Miami since being drafted in the seventh round out of New Mexico back in 2018. He was named a First-Team All-Pro in 2020 and has built a reputation as one of the league’s more consistent long-range threats.
Over his career, he’s converted 84.6 percent of his field goal attempts, including a stellar 37-for-41 performance last season. His career long?
A booming 57-yarder, which he hit in both 2023 and 2024.
But Sanders’ potential return creates a dilemma, because Riley Patterson has stepped up in a big way this season. The journeyman kicker - who’s made stops with the Lions, Jaguars, Browns, Jets and Falcons since entering the league in 2021 - has been lights out for Miami. He’s hit 92.3 percent of his field goals this year and just last week nailed a career-best 54-yarder.
So, who gets the nod against the Bengals this Sunday?
Special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman isn’t tipping his hand just yet. “We’re going to go through the process this week and see what’s going on,” Aukerman said Thursday.
“It’s good to have [Jason] back out there. We’re going to take everything from yesterday’s practice, today, Friday - gather all that information, talk to the athletic training staff, talk to Jason, talk to Riley - and make sure we’re all on the same page.”
Aukerman made it clear there’s no rush and no need to speculate. The staff wants to be sure Sanders is fully ready before making any decision. And while Patterson has “done great” this year, Aukerman praised both kickers for their work throughout their careers, calling it “a great thing to have” - two dependable legs ready to go.
Could both kickers be active on Sunday? That’s a hard no. Aukerman said he’s only seen that scenario once - years ago, when Ryan Succop was dealing with an injury - and it’s not something the Dolphins are planning to revisit.
The team now faces a choice: activate Sanders before Sunday’s game or continue to evaluate him in practice over the next few weeks. Either way, the Dolphins are using these final games to get clarity - not just at quarterback or on defense, but on special teams, too.
It’s all part of a bigger picture in Miami. The playoff race may be over, but the roster evaluation is just getting started.