The 2025 season has gotten off to a rough start for the Miami Dolphins. With a 1-5 record, the offense and defense have struggled to find consistency. Injuries ravaged the defense before the season started; however, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and the offense have been rather underwhelming.
While Tagovailoa has held on to the starting job for now, the Dolphins have started to shuffle things behind him.
Rookie QB Quinn Ewers To Serve As Dolphins’ QB2 in Week 7
Tagovailoa has left much to be desired on the field this season. He’s completed 127 of 182 passes through six games for 1,213 yards, 11 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He’s averaged a relatively low 6.7 yards per pass attempt and 202.2 yards per game. While other areas have struggled, Tagovailoa has been the source of back-breaking turnovers this season.
Heading into Week 7, Tagovailoa is the 12th-ranked quarterback in the league based on PFSN’s QB Impact metric.
He’s held on to his QB1 status, but Miami made an interesting change to the depth chart ahead of the Week 7 matchup against the Browns. NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport shared that rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers was named Tagovailoa’s backup over former New York Jets QB Zach Wilson.
The #Dolphins are making a change to their QB depth chart for today’s game, as Quinn Ewers will serve as the backup to Tua Tagovailoa for their matchup against the #Browns, per the insiders.
This is the first game active for the rookie seventh rounder. pic.twitter.com/wXWrqZETyn
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 19, 2025
Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald shed more light on the situation, posting on X, “Got some feedback on Ewers being [the] no. 2 decision. [He] has looked very good as scout team QB. [The] Dolphins love his arm and how hard he’s worked. They feel he’s now ready to play in [the] game, if needed.”
Got some feedback on Ewers being no. 2 decision… Has looked very good as scout team QB… Dolphins love his arm and how hard he’s worked. They feel he’s nowready to play in game If needed
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 19, 2025
The move is interesting given Tagovailoa’s latest struggles on the field. While Miami lost Tyreek Hill for the season in Week 4 against the Jets, the Dolphins still have plenty of weapons to target. If Tagovailoa’s poor play continues, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Miami turns to Ewers, given Tagovailoa’s $99.2 million dead cap hit in 2026.
It would be a drastic change, but given the 1-5 start, Mike McDaniel may need to consider making a change of such magnitude if he wants to keep his job.
