The Dolphins watched quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stay healthy and start all 18 regular-season and playoff games in 2023. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Tagovailoa to suffer his first concerning injury of 2024.
Tagovailoa suffered another concussion late in Miami’s blowout loss on Thursday Night Football to open Week 2. Given his history of multiple head injuries, he’s expected to miss some time with a team that was urged to err on the side of caution after signing Tagovailoa to a lucrative contract extension in the offseason.
The Dolphins have just one backup on the depth chart, Skylar Thompson, who once again took over for Tagovailoa. Thompson was also set to start a wild-card playoff game in place of the injured Tagovailoa against the Bills after the 2022 season.
Thompson could start next Sunday’s game against the Seahawks in Seattle, but who are the Dolphins’ other potential options to replace Tagovailoa? Here are the top picks for Mike McDaniel’s offense, not to mention another first-round pick who has already started multiple games for Miami.
Dolphins’ best replacement options for Tua Tagovailoa
Skylar Thompson, Dolphins backup QB
Thompson has been the most present behind Tagovailoa because the offensive staff feels he deserves to return as the No. 2. Aside from Mike White, who was released by the Dolphins in the preseason and resides on the Bills’ practice squad, he has the most direct experience under McDaniel.
Josh Dobbs, 49ers backup QB
Dobbs is the third player on this depth chart behind Brock Purdy and Brandon Allen. He was also traded last season, and has been a decent backup for the Cardinals and Vikings. He can also be a fair transition from Kyle Shanahan to former assistant McDaniel, and he proved last year that he has the veteran smarts to keep his teams competitive.
Ravens backup QB Josh Johnson
Tyler Huntley is back with the Ravens on their practice squad after leaving to join the AFC North rival Browns in free agency, only to be released before the season, with Jameis Winston earning the primary backup job behind Deshaun Watson. The Ravens could return Huntley to a familiar No. 2 role behind Lamar Jackson and make Johnson, who was with Shanahan and the 49ers in 2022, available. The Dolphins would be the 36-year-old Johnson’s seventh NFL team in just over seven years of action spanning 2009 to the present.
CJ Beathard, QB free agent
Beathard is another former Shanahan QB who was let go by the Jaguars in favor of Trevor Lawrence’s new young backup, former Patriot Mac Jones. He started alongside current Vikings backup Nick Mullens in 2017, the year the 49ers traded for Jimmy Garoppolo.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Rams backup QB
Garoppolo is serving a two-game suspension for violating the league’s doping policy, but he will be available to play in Week 3. If the Rams are comfortable with just having Stetson Bennett behind Matthew Stafford, they could answer calls from McDaniel and the Dolphins about San Francisco’s last long-term starter before Brock Purdy.
BUT NOT Ryan Tannehill, free agent QB
Really? Really? Okay, he started for the Dolphins in a different era in a different offense and he’s 36. He showed major decline late in his time with the Titans, a shell of the rejuvenated former starter who got his start there playing an effective run-based system with Derrick Henry. There’s a reason Tannehill wasn’t signed by any team that needed a backup this offseason: He doesn’t have a true backup and he can’t be trusted as a short-term backup either.
Tannehill was signed behind Marcus Mariota in Tennessee, but that was with the intent that Mariota was about to lose his job and the Titans needed someone to run their passing game well with the same athleticism but a stronger arm and more successful experience. Once the Titans drafted Malik Willis and Will Levis in back-to-back years, it should have screamed loud and clear that he was no longer a viable QB option.
Still, expect to continue hearing Tannehill’s name whenever a QB with a bad or inexperienced backup is injured and has to miss time in 2024.
