The Miami Dolphins appeared to be on the right path over the past few weeks, as they carried a four-game win streak into their Week 15 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. They ended up suffering a lifeless 28-15 defeat on Monday Night Football, though, and after another rough outing from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the team announced he was getting benched in favor of seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers.
A once highly-touted prospect, Ewers has some upside that Miami will be looking to tap into over the final three games of the season. It’s certainly not an ideal situation, as the team would obviously have rather seen Tagovailoa succeed this season, but it sounds like the Dolphins are intent on making the most out of their current situation.
Dolphins Excited to See What Quinn Ewers is Capable of Under Center
For a point in time, the Dolphins believed that Tagovailoa was their quarterback of the future, but that hope appears to have evaporated. In 14 games this season, Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns, but he’s also been intercepted a league-leading 15 times. Losing Tyreek Hill to a season-ending injury early in the year didn’t help, but Tagovailoa has largely looked like a shell of his former self.
With nothing left to play for this season, Miami is turning things over to Ewers to see what he’s capable of. Ewers made his NFL debut earlier in the season against the Cleveland Browns, as he completed five of his eight pass attempts for 53 yards. He will now have a three-game audition under center for the Dolphins, with Tagovailoa being cast aside due to his struggles.
Ewers was solid if unspectacular during his collegiate career with the Texas Longhorns, but he has the potential to become a solid passer in the NFL. One thing Miami noted is that Ewers loves to push the ball down the field, which is a stark contrast from Tagovailoa, who has become one of the highest volume checkdown passers in the league.
“What Dolphins noticed about new starter Quinn Ewers pre-draft and throughout development: Instincts as a thrower and fearlessness,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN wrote in a post on X. “‘He’s not afraid to let it rip,’ as one person with the team told me this week. Not considered as accurate as Tua Tagovailoa but will push the ball downfield.
Dolphins felt Ewers needed time in Year 1 to get his body right after several injuries in college. Now, after all offseason and 14 games behind the scenes, Ewers is poised for a three-game sample to see what he can do.”
What Should Expectations be for Quinn Ewers in First Start with Dolphins?
GettyThe Dolphins are excited to see what they have in Quinn Ewers after benching Tua Tagovailoa
There was a point in time when the Dolphins featured one of the most feared offenses in the league with Tagovailoa at quarterback. Again, he had Hill at his disposal, but it’s not as if this offense is short on weapons. De’Von Achane is one of the best running backs in the league, Jaylen Waddle is a star, and even Darren Waller has proven he’s still got a little bit left in the tank after coming out of retirement to join the team ahead of the season.
With that in mind, Ewers will have an opportunity to move this unit up and down the field. He will also draw a favorable matchup in Week 16, as he will be going up against a Cincinnati Bengals team that features one of the worst defenses in the league. Nothing is guaranteed for Ewers beyond these upcoming three games, but if he can string together some strong performances, he could give Miami’s front office something to think about over the offseason.
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