The Miami Dolphins are heading into the final stretch of a lost season, but they’re already shifting their focus toward 2026-and one position looms larger than the rest: quarterback.
After a rocky campaign filled with turnovers, Tua Tagovailoa found himself on the bench in Week 16. The former No. 5 overall pick has struggled mightily this season, and despite his hefty $53 million average annual salary, the Dolphins made the bold move to sit him down.
In his place? Rookie seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers, a name that sparked plenty of debate on draft day and is now front and center in Miami’s quarterback conversation.
Ewers didn’t deliver a miracle win in his NFL debut, but he did show flashes of why the Dolphins handed him the keys-at least temporarily. Head coach Mike McDaniel, known for his candor and quarterback-friendly system, had high praise for the rookie’s poise under pressure.
“As much, if not more, than what can be reasonably expected,” McDaniel said the day after Ewers’ first start. “You want to see the game not be too big for him.”
That’s exactly what Miami saw. Despite being listed behind Zach Wilson on the depth chart, Ewers got the nod and made the most of it.
He completed 20 of 30 passes for 260 yards, threw two interceptions, and led the Dolphins on three scoring drives in a 45-21 loss to the Bengals. The stat line wasn’t perfect, but it wasn’t empty either.
His first scoring drive was capped off by a 48-yard touchdown run from De’Von Achane, but it was the next two possessions that gave a clearer glimpse into what Ewers might bring to the table. He went a perfect 7-for-7 for 128 yards across those drives, showing touch, timing, and confidence in the pocket-traits you want to see from a young quarterback stepping into the fire.
Sure, the turnovers are a concern. No team wants to see their rookie QB giving the ball away, especially in a blowout.
But context matters here. Ewers was thrust into a tough situation with a team that’s been spiraling, and he didn’t look overwhelmed.
That alone is a win in a season that’s had few of them.
Now, the Dolphins have a decision to make. Tua’s future is murky, and while Ewers isn’t a sure thing, his debut gives Miami something to evaluate heading into the offseason. If nothing else, he’s earned another look-and possibly a real shot to compete for the job moving forward.
For a franchise that’s spent years searching for stability under center, Week 16 may not have changed the standings, but it might have reshaped the conversation about where the Dolphins go next.