MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel opened the door to a potential quarterback change Tuesday, saying “all the pieces’s on the desk,” after Tua Tagovailoa’s efficiency in Monday evening’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Dolphins (6-8) had been eradicated from playoff rivalry Monday with the 28-15 loss at Pittsburgh, wherein Tagovailoa accomplished simply 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards and an interception by way of three quarters.
When requested after the sport whether or not he was contemplating a quarterback change, McDaniel stated he did not wish to make a “rash” or “shortsighted” resolution. His tone modified Tuesday.
“I believe the quarterback play final evening was not ok, and so for me, all the pieces’s on the desk,” he stated.
Tagovailoa completed 22-of-28 for 253 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception. Each touchdowns got here within the fourth quarter with the Dolphins trailing 28-3. Getting into Monday’s recreation, he hadn’t thrown for greater than 173 yards since Week 9.
McDaniel admitted the Dolphins’ passing offense, which ranks thirty first within the league since Week 10, hasn’t been ok and “damage us” within the loss.
Tagovailoa on Monday took duty for his play, and for what he known as an absence of preparation.
“For one, I acquired to play higher. I acquired to be higher for our guys offensively,” he stated. “Two, I am fairly disillusioned with how prepared I acquired our receivers, by way of operation, by way of guys realizing the place to line up, and communication in terms of personnel.
“That is one thing I harp to guys after we’re in our personal player-led conferences, and I felt like I let our guys down in that side.”
McDaniel stated he would decide concerning the crew’s beginning quarterback Wednesday. He has two choices to select from ought to he resolve to bench Tagovailoa.
Miami signed 2021 second general choose Zach Wilson this offseason, however he hasn’t began a recreation since 2023. The Dolphins additionally drafted former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers within the seventh spherical of this 12 months’s draft. Ewers briefly served because the crew’s backup quarterback for its Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and briefly entered the sport however has in any other case been the Dolphins’ emergency quarterback.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.1 million extension in 2024 after he led the NFL in passing yards in 2023. Nevertheless, he missed a career-high six video games final season, and whereas he has been sturdy in 2025, he leads the league in interceptions with a career-high 15 in 14 video games.
The Dolphins host the Cincinnati Bengals (4-10) on Sunday.
