Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel expressed confidence in third-year quarterback Skylar Thompson, who is set take the reins of the offense with Tua Tagovailoa in the NFL’s concussion protocol. The coach did say, however, that the Dolphins will add another passer to the mix soon.
“The team and the organization are very confident in Skylar,” McDaniel said Friday. “There’s a reason he was our backup quarterback. That being said, we will bring in someone, we’re just evaluating the pros and cons for the different situations, and getting through all of those possibilities to do the best thing for the team. But as it stands today, I’m expecting that Skylar is the next man up.”
Thompson, a 2022 seventh-round pick, made two regular season starts and one postseason start as a rookie, but spent all of last year on the Dolphins’ practice squad. On Thursday night, he got his first regular season action in nearly two years in relief of Tagovailoa and completed eight of 14 passes for 80 yards.
“We played with Skylar as a rookie with the season on the line, and found a way to win an elimination game and go toe-to-toe with [the Bills] in a playoff game and he’s a much better player than he was then,” McDaniel said Thursday night after the 31-10 loss. “Those are things that the team feels. I think guys really believe in Skylar. I have the utmost confidence in him.”
Still, the Dolphins’ decision to immediately scour the quarterback market suggests the team doesn’t envision Tagovailoa making a speedy return from his concussion.
Among the free agent options are Ryan Tannehill, C.J. Beathard, and Blaine Gabbert. It’s also possible players like Jimmy Garoppolo or Carson Wentz could be had in a trade.
