The Miami Dolphins are making a significant change, benching QB Tua Tagovailoa and naming rookie Quinn Ewers the starter for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ewers, a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, will make his first career start.
CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones wrote on social media “The Dolphins are benching Tua Tagovailoa and will start rookie QB Quinn Ewers Sunday against the Bengals, source tells @NFLonCBS. This has been the expected move after Mike McDaniel said he would evaluate the QB position yesterday.”
Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed the move on Wednesday, which comes just one day after he openly questioned Miami’s quarterback play following a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that officially eliminated the Dolphins from playoff contention. After that defeat, McDaniel said, “I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough, and so for me, everything’s on the table.”
“Quinn gives us the best chance to win,” McDaniel said, acknowledging the difficulty of the decision to bench Tagovailoa:“It wasn’t an easy thing for him to hear. It was a tough conversation But he exhibited why he’s a captain. He is going to help Quinn prepare for his first start.”
Tagovailoa has had an uneven season; in Monday night’s loss to Pittsburgh, he completed 22 of 28 passes for 253 yards and two touchdowns, but both scores came after the outcome was largely decided. He threw his league-leading 15th interception and managed just 65 passing yards through the first three quarters while taking four sacks. For the season, Tagovailoa has completed 67.7% of his passes for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns, but his 15 interceptions are a career high. Miami won four straight games prior to the Steelers loss, though Tagovailoa threw only three touchdowns with three interceptions during that stretch.
Tagovailoa’s long-term outlook with the franchise is also uncertain: he signed a four-year, $212.4 million extension in July 2024, with $167 million guaranteed, and is under contract through 2028. His cap hit climbs to $56.4 million in 2026, and releasing him next year would carry a massive dead-cap penalty.
Ewers has seen limited action this season, most notably in Week 7 against Cleveland, when he completed 5 of 8 passes for 53 yards. Though initially viewed as an emergency option, he impressed enough during practices and preseason play to earn the opportunity. While Ewers is officially guaranteed only the start against Cincinnati, the expectation is he could remain under center for more than one game as Miami evaluates its future. The Dolphins still have games against Tampa Bay and New England
As part of Wednesday’s roster moves, Miami also released veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon. The four-time Pro Bowler, who joined the Dolphins in August, failed to record a sack in 13 games and could now sign with a playoff contender if he clears waivers.
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