Near the end of the Miami Dolphins’ 2022 season, they were down to third-string rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson to lead their team after injuries to both Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater.
Thompson ended up starting the franchise’s first postseason game since 2016 in a losing effort to the Buffalo Bills.
However, they may have had a veteran option to take over if needed. According to Rich Eisen, rumors swirled at the NFL combine that the Dolphins were one of two quarterback-needy teams that were contacted by Philip Rivers for a return down the stretch. Eisen noted that the San Francisco 49ers, who were down to seventh-round pick Brock Purdy after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, were the other team.
In an offense that had the ability to be explosive with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, Rivers may have been better suited to lead them to a playoff win even at his advanced age.
At the same time, getting him into a new system and having him learn a playbook so quickly likely would’ve been an issue, so it’s not that crazy to see why it didn’t happen.
