Dolphins Start Rookie Quinn Ewers at QB, Bench Tua Tagovailoa vs. Bengals

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Dolphins Start Rookie Quinn Ewers at QB, Bench Tua Tagovailoa vs. Bengals

The Miami Dolphins have made a significant change in their quarterback lineup, choosing to start rookie Quinn Ewers while benching Tua Tagovailoa for their upcoming game against the Cincinnati Bengals. This decision comes amid a disappointing stretch for Tagovailoa, who has struggled with his performance over the past few games.

Dolphins’ Decision to Start Rookie Quinn Ewers

The Dolphins’ recent four-game winning streak has masked deeper issues within the team’s passing game. Coach Mike McDaniel prioritized a strong rushing attack, leading to Tagovailoa’s declining passing statistics. Over the last four games, he averaged fewer than 175 passing yards, raising concerns about the team’s passing capability.

Tua Tagovailoa’s Struggles

Tagovailoa leads the NFL with 15 interceptions in 2025.
His Expected Points Added (EPA) per dropback stands at -0.06, ranking among the worst quarterbacks.
He is fourth-worst in Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) among qualifying quarterbacks.

His performance has seen a stark contrast to his Pro Bowl season in 2023, during which he led the league with 4,624 passing yards. This season, he has often made rookie-like mistakes, such as missing reads and struggling under pressure.

What Lies Ahead for Miami and Tagovailoa

The decision to bench Tagovailoa raises questions about his future in Miami. If McDaniel remains the head coach, it remains uncertain if he can reinstate a quarterback who has been sidelined due to performance issues.

Contract Considerations

Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract in 2024.
He has $56.4 million guaranteed for 2026.
Releasing Tagovailoa outright would incur a $99.2 million dead-money penalty.
A post-June 1 release would still count $67.4 million against the cap.
Trading him would lead to $45.2 million in dead money.

The financial implications make any potential move challenging. A quarterback struggling to perform might be difficult to trade, especially with a considerable base salary of $39 million. As the Dolphins move forward, the focus will be on how Ewers adapts to the starting role and whether Tagovailoa can regroup from this setback.