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The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and will start rookie Quinn Ewers on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, head coach Mike McDaniel announced on Wednesday.
The Dolphins (6-8), eliminated from postseason play, signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212m extension in July 2024 after he led the NFL in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624.
But amid a disappointing season, McDaniel hinted Tuesday a change could be coming after a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night. “The quarterback play last night was not good enough,” McDaniel said on Tuesday. “So for me, everything is on the table.”
On Wednesday, he announced that Ewers would be receive his first career NFL start against the Bengals (4-10). “The decision is complicated but simple,” McDaniel said.
“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 told the players – we are focused on beating the Bengals, so that is the motivation.
“Zach will be backing him up, and Tua will be the emergency third.”
When asked what his thinking was for having Tua serve as the emergency quarterback, McDaniel said, “I think it was the best for all parties involved, Quinn, Zach and Tua.”
McDaniel didn’t stop there, however. “All three quarterbacks … I think they understood that my intent and motivation is concretely to do the best thing for the team.
“Starting with Tua, 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. He understood what that means for his contribution to the team and how he’s gonna help Quinn prepare for his first start.”
Tagovailoa, 27, completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards while throwing his NFL-leading 15th interception through the first three quarters of Monday’s game. He finished 22 of 28 for 253 yards with a pair of late touchdowns to tight end Darren Waller.
Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. Additional changes are expected, and the Dolphins didn’t wait to dismiss one defensive player.
Veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon, who signed a one-year, $3m deal with the Dolphins prior to the season, was waived on Wednesday. Judon, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, appeared in 13 games with Miami. The 33-year-old had zero sacks and was credited with just nine total pressures this season by Pro Football Focus, which would rank in the bottom five of the 112 outside linebackers graded by the site.
The Dolphins acquired Tagovailoa with the No 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ewers was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Texas.
“Quinn, his disposition, understanding that it’s uncharted territory as a rookie starting, but his relationship with his teammates and the motivation,” McDaniel added. “I think our team with him starting at the quarterback position gives us the best opportunity to beat the Bengals.”
Ewers, 22, made his only NFL appearance on 19 October in mop-up duty in a 31-6 loss at Cleveland. He was five-of-eight passing for 53 yards.
