The Dolphins got a quick reminder on Friday night that preseason box scores can lie, but individual performances still leave a mark. Miami opened the 2026 preseason against Washington with a sharp first drive, moving the ball efficiently, leaning on the run early, and getting strong work from an offensive line that held up well. After that, the night turned when the backups took over.
Quinn Ewers was at the center of that shift. The Miami backup went 1-for-8 for 27 yards, threw an interception, and posted a 1.6 passer rating.
He also dealt with a groin injury that he played through. For a quarterback who started three games down the stretch last year, it was the kind of outing that immediately gets people asking whether Miami should be looking elsewhere for a veteran behind Malik Willis.
But the bigger question hanging over Ewers isn’t really about one ugly preseason showing. It’s whether his performance this season matters at all.
Miami is entering year one of what it hopes is a fast rebuild under new head coach Jeff Hafley, with Willis at quarterback. The roster has been stocked with rookies, making the Dolphins the youngest team in the league, while a handful of veterans arrived on one-year deals. The focus in 2026 is less about chasing a short-term fix and more about building something that can last.
That’s why Ewers’ role looks so limited in the bigger picture. If Willis struggles and Ewers has to step in, Miami will have a clear answer - and likely start looking toward a quarterback early in the 2027 NFL Draft.
If Willis gets hurt and misses time, the same logic applies. And if Willis plays well enough to convince the Dolphins he’s the long-term answer, Ewers may barely see the field at all.
In that sense, Ewers’ performance only matters if it reveals something about the team’s larger direction. If he’s forced into action, Miami is probably already moving toward its next quarterback decision. If he stays on the sideline, the Dolphins are learning what they need from Willis instead.
That’s also why adding a veteran like Jimmy Garoppolo wouldn’t change the central goal. Miami is trying to evaluate Willis, not patch together a middle-ground season. A stabilizing backup might make the week-to-week feel cleaner, but it doesn’t do much for the franchise’s long-term answer.
The Dolphins are not chasing mediocrity in 2026. If they make a deep playoff run, they’ll know they have something in Willis.
If things collapse, they’ll know that too. Either way, the point is to get the information they need for 2027.
So if Ewers is called on and plays well, Miami gets an answer. If he’s called on and struggles, Miami gets an answer. If he never plays because Willis takes the job and runs with it, Miami gets an answer.
That’s why, for the Dolphins, Quinn Ewers’ performance this year doesn’t really matter.
In Other News...
Dolphins Offensive Line Is Turning Heads Before A Bigger Test Arrives
The Dolphins starting offensive line has started to settle in just as the preseason ramps up, and the early signs have been encouraging. Limited reps against the Washington Commanders offered a first look, and the group carried that momentum into later practices, where Jonah Savaiinaea and Austin Jackson drew praise for both run blocking and pass protection. For a unit that has been under the microscope all summer, showing clean work in practice matters as much as any single snap.
Behind the starters, the depth chart is also taking shape in a way Miami needs it to, especially with the bigger tests still ahead. Caeden Wallace has been standing out since the trade, giving the Dolphins a useful backup option while the coaches sort through the rest of the interior mix. And with Jamaree Salyer now out for the season, the room has even less margin for error, which only raises the importance of every strong practice rep between now and the next real game. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Keep Sending A Clear Message About Their Pass Rush Depth
The Dolphins are again adding to their edge-rush group as they continue to sort through the bottom of the roster ahead of Preseason Week 2. Seth Coleman-Lyles is back in the picture, bringing some familiarity to a unit that has seen a steady stream of recent signings and some notable absences along the defensive line as Miami keeps looking for workable depth.
Coleman-Lyles has already spent time with the Seahawks and Colts, and his return gives the Dolphins another body to evaluate in camp as they try to stabilize a position that can change quickly in August. For Miami, the move fits a broader pattern of keeping the competition open and making sure there are enough options on hand if the defensive front is tested again in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]