Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel recently revealed that the team will start rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson in Sunday’s Week 6 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
McDaniel offered an update regarding the team’s situation at quarterback on Friday. Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, the team’s top two quarterbacks, are still in concussion protocol.
McDaniel said Tua and Teddy are still in concussion protocol.
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 14, 2022
Tagovailoa was injured in the Dolphins’ Week 4 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. While Tagovailoa is taking steps to return to the lineup, the Dolphins won’t have him in Week 6.
He did return to practice on Wednesday, and one NFL insider said that there is a “realistic chance” that he returns for the team’s game in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Bridgewater, who started last week for Miami, was injured against the New York Jets. Even though there is a chance Bridgewater could clear concussion protocol in time for Sunday’s game, McDaniel felt the team had more time to prepare with Thompson as the quarterback.
Thompson, one of the team’s seventh-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft, will make his first career start in the game, but that doesn’t mean he is now the team’s backup quarterback.
McDaniel says the fact Skylar is starting doesn't mean he is the No. 2 QB; Teddy still is, behind Tua (who's out Sunday): "We're starting Skylar because he thought it was best for the team having the week to prepare."
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 14, 2022
Last week against the Jets, Thompson completed 19 passes for 166 yards and one interception. It wasn’t a horrible performance for the rookie, who was forced into action after Bridgewater went down, but the Dolphins lost 40-17 to fall to 3-2 on the season.
If Bridgewater is cleared from concussion protocol in time for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, he will serve as Thompson’s backup. If not, the Dolphins plan to promote quarterback Reid Sinnett from their practice squad.
If Teddy isn't cleared by tomorrow, then Sinnett will be elevated. If Teddy cleared, he will back up Skylar https://t.co/YlPgroRf78
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 14, 2022
The Dolphins certainly aren’t in an ideal situation, but it is good to see the team prioritizing the health of its quarterbacks as they deal with head injuries.
Miami’s 3-0 start gave it some leeway to lose games early in the season, but the Vikings are 4-1 on the season and could be a tough team to beat with Thompson under center.
