The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins made a major move on Wednesday, shaking up their quarterback depth chart after the team was eliminated from playoff contention. Starter Tua Tagovailoa was benched, sliding from the top of the position group to being the third player on the depth chart. Leaping from the third spot into the top spot is rookie Quinn Ewers, who has spent most of the season designated as the team’s emergency passer. Now, Tagovailoa will take on that role while Zach Wilson remains the team second-string option.
Head coach Mike McDaniel met with the media on Wednesday and discussed the change and where the team might be headed in the future.
He opened his media availability, stating, “The decision is complicated but simple; the simple piece is I think Quinn gives this team the best chance to win. Our focus is obviously to win the next three games but in particular, like I tell the players, we are focused on beating the Bengals so that was the motivation. Zach will be
backing him up and Tua will be the emergency third.”
In explaining why Tagovailoa was moved to the bottom of the depth chart, McDaniel remarked, “I think it was the best for all parties involved, Quinn, Zach and Tua.”
With Tagovailoa serving as the third quarterback, the team will list him as inactive for the game, but he will be allowed to dress and enter the game if both Ewers and Wilson are injured. The move relieves some pressure off Ewers, removing the possibility that a bad throw or a poor drive leads to McDaniel putting Tagovailoa back in the game and ending the Ewers era for the offense before it ever really starts.
McDaniel explained the reaction to the news in the quarterback room, saying, “All three quarterbacks, built through the relationship that you build together day-in, day-out, I think they understood that my intent and my motivation is concretely to do the best thing for the team. That being said, obviously Quinn’s conversation was different than Tua’s and Zach’s.
“Starting with Tua, I think it wasn’t easy for him to hear. It was a tough conversation, but also I think he exhibited what makes him a captain and a leader on this team is he understood what that means for his contribution to the team and how he’s going to help Quinn prepare for his first start. He displayed leadership skills by understanding, but as a competitor, it’s tough.
“Then Zach, I think he as a competitor was very disappointed and again I took the time to talk through the various reasons that ultimately I just flat out as easy as, I think Quinn, his disposition, understanding that it’s uncharted territory as a rookie starting, but his relationship with his teammates and the motivation, I think our team with him starting at the quarterback position gives us the best opportunity to beat the Bengals. Tough conversations, these...
