Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel expressed his confidence in third-year quarterback Skylar Thompson to take the reins of the offense while Tua Tagovailoa is in the NFL’s concussion protocol, but the coach said the Dolphins will add another passer to the team soon.
“The team and the organization have a lot of confidence in Skylar,” McDaniel said Friday. “There’s a reason he was our backup quarterback. Regardless, we’re going to bring somebody in, we’re just weighing the pros and cons of different situations and going through all the options to get what’s best for the team. But as it stands today, I expect Skylar to be the next man up.”
Thompson, a 2022 seventh-round pick, made two regular-season and one postseason appearance as a rookie but spent all of last year on the Dolphins’ practice squad. On Thursday night, he made his first regular-season appearance in nearly two years as Tagovailoa’s backup, completing eight of 14 passes for 80 yards.
“We played with Skylar as a rookie when the season was on the line and found a way to win an elimination game and beat (the Bills) in a playoff game. He’s a much better player than he was then,” McDaniel said Thursday night after the 31-10 loss. “Those are things the team feels. I think the guys really believe in Skylar. I have the utmost confidence in him.”
However, the Dolphins’ decision to immediately search the quarterback market suggests that the team does not expect Tagovailoa to be back on the field anytime soon after his concussion.
Free agent options include Ryan Tannehill, CJ Beathard and Blaine Gabbert. It is also possible that players like Jimmy Garoppolo or Carson Wentz could be available through a trade.
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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Skylar Thompson is the ‘next man up,’ but the Dolphins will sign a quarterback
