Mike McDaniel says backup quarterback job between Mike White and Skylar Thompson is ‘neck and neck’

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel shared some insight into the battle for the backup quarterback position behind starter Tua Tagovailoa in the 2024 season.

“McDaniel said the competition between Mike White and Skylar Thompson for the backup quarterback job ‘is neck and neck,’” the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson wrote. “‘It was a pretty close race last year, with Mike winning it. They’ve continued to develop their games and do really good things. Each individual is better than where they were last year.’”

White, who is in the second season of a two-year, $8 million contract, appeared in six games during the 2023 season and attempted six passes, completing five of them for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Thompson did not play in a game during the 2023 season, but he did see a lot of action in the 2022 season when Tagovailoa was dealing with injuries. The former seventh-round pick appeared in seven games during the 2022 season, making two starts.

He threw for 534 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions while completing 57.1 percent of his passes. Thompson was forced into action during the 2022 season due to injuries to both Tagovailoa and former veteran backup Teddy Bridgewater.

The 27-year-old also started Miami’s playoff game in the 2022 season against the Buffalo Bills, throwing for 220 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a loss.

According to Jackson, McDaniel “strongly suggested” that Tagovailoa will not play in the Dolphins’ preseason matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday. That would open up more playing time for White and Thompson to both prove why they deserve to earn the backup role.

Tagovailoa avoided any major injury in the 2023 season, starting all 17 regular season games and Miami’s playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. In an ideal world, the Dolphins would have Tagovailoa under center for every game again in 2024, but they need a backup plan in case that doesn’t happen.

Both White and Thompson have starting experience, although White’s is a little more expansive from his time with the New York Jets.

It’s likely that the Dolphins will wait at least one, if not multiple preseason games, before deciding on who will officially be behind Tagovailoa on the depth chart in the regular season.