The Miami Dolphins have spent nearly three seasons developing 2022 seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson, but it seems they’re throwing in the towel.
On Monday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters the team is turning to Tyler Huntley to be Tua Tagovailoa’s backup. That moves Thompson to third on the depth chart, which means his spot on the 53-man roster is tenuous, at best.
While Miami has carried three quarterbacks for stretches this season, including its Week 13 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Dolphins started the year with only two quarterbacks on the active roster. So long as Tagovailoa and one backup are both healthy, the team will probably save roster space by sticking with just a pair of passers.
Assuming Thompson clears waivers, he’s a logical candidate to be retained on the practice squad. But will he ever see the Dolphins’ active roster again? Probably not.
The Dolphins now have three year’s worth of evidence that Thompson isn’t a player they can trust to step into the lineup when needed. Even trusting the quarterback to hand the ball off in the fourth quarter of a blowout win against the New England Patriots turned into a disaster for the team.
The team’s decision to turn to Huntley down the stretch speaks volumes. And it’s hard to imagine Miami has any interest in having Thompson around as a backup in 2025 and beyond.
In three years with the Dolphins, Thompson has appeared in 10 regular season games with one touchdown and three interceptions. He also made a playoff start, which he finished with a touchdown and two picks. It’d be a surprise if Miami has Thompson in its lineup ever again.
