The Miami Dolphins are making a major move at quarterback - and it’s not the one anyone saw coming back in September.
According to reports, Tua Tagovailoa is headed to the bench, and rookie Quinn Ewers will get the start this Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, that Quinn Ewers - the seventh-round pick from the 2025 draft - is now taking the reins of a playoff-hopeful team in December. It’s a bold pivot from head coach Mike McDaniel, but after Monday night’s loss to the Steelers, it’s clear the leash on Tua had grown short.
McDaniel didn’t mince words when asked about the quarterback situation following that defeat.
“I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough, and so for me, everything’s on the table,” he said Tuesday.
That comment turned out to be more than just postgame frustration. It was a signal. And now, the Dolphins are officially making a change under center.
Let’s talk about why.
Tua’s Season Has Been a Rollercoaster - and Not the Fun Kind
On paper, Tagovailoa’s stat line from Monday night doesn’t look disastrous: 253 passing yards. But context matters.
Through three quarters, he had just 65 yards. Miami’s offense managed only three points in that span, and by the time they finally found the end zone in the fourth quarter, the game was already well out of reach.
This wasn’t a one-off, either. Tua’s 2025 campaign has been defined by inconsistency and turnovers.
He’s thrown 20 touchdowns - a solid number - but also leads the league with 15 interceptions. That’s not just a red flag; it’s a flashing neon warning sign, especially for a team that came into the season with postseason aspirations.
The advanced metrics paint an even bleaker picture. Out of 33 qualifying quarterbacks this season, Tua ranks 26th in EPA per play and 30th in success rate, per Ben Baldwin’s database. Those are bottom-tier numbers, and they reflect what Dolphins fans have seen too often this year: drives stalling, mistakes piling up, and a quarterback who hasn’t looked comfortable or confident in the pocket.
Enter: Quinn Ewers
Now, it’s Ewers’ turn. The rookie out of Texas wasn’t expected to see the field this season, let alone start in a crucial December game with playoff implications. But here we are.
Ewers was taken late in the draft - a seventh-round flyer with upside - but he impressed during training camp and has quietly earned the trust of the coaching staff behind the scenes. While we haven’t seen him in regular-season action yet, the decision to start him now says a lot about where Miami feels it is with Tagovailoa.
This is more than just a message. It’s a gamble. But it might be the kind of spark the Dolphins need.
What This Means for the Dolphins
Miami’s offense has the weapons. The speed on the outside, the creativity in the scheme - it’s all there.
But without steady quarterback play, it hasn’t clicked the way it did in years past. With the Bengals up next and the playoff race tightening, this is a critical juncture.
Benching your starting quarterback in Week 15 is never a small move. It’s a statement.
And for Tua, it’s a crossroads moment in his career. The Dolphins have stood by him through ups and downs, but this season’s struggles may have finally tipped the scale.
Now, it’s Quinn Ewers’ show. Whether he can seize the moment remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure - the Dolphins are betting on change, and they’re betting on it now.