The Miami Dolphins opened the preseason with a touchdown drive. Then Quinn Ewers entered, and the evening began to look like somebody had unplugged the offense.
Miami lost 20-7 to the Washington Commanders on Friday night, with Ewers finishing 1-for-8 for 27 yards and an interception. For a quarterback who ended last season with three starts and a crumb of momentum, this performance sent Dolphins fans straight past concern and into full preseason panic.
Dolphins Fans Let Quinn Ewers Have It
One reaction summed up the mood with very little mercy.
“Quinn Ewers looks 10000x worse than at any point last season,” one fan wrote on X.
Simon Clancy was not much more optimistic. He wrote that Ewers had struggled during training camp and again against Washington, then wondered whether Miami could be searching for an upgrade behind starter Malik Willis.
The final stat line did nothing to cool things down. Dolphins reporter Alain Poupart noted on X that Ewers completed just one of eight attempts for 27 yards with one interception and a 1.6 passer rating. “Not all on him, but still… yeesh!” Poupart wrote.
Neal Driscoll went even further. “Quinn Ewers should not make the final 53,” he remarked.
That is a dramatic conclusion after one preseason game, but August has never been famous for patience.
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Quinn Ewers Has Ground To Make Up Behind Malik Willis
The contrast with Miami’s opening possession made Ewers’ night look even worse. Willis and the first offense marched 93 yards on 14 plays, finishing the drive with a one-yard De’Von Achane touchdown run. Miami never scored again.
The Dolphins finished with only 226 total yards, while Washington produced 334. Ewers also appeared uncomfortable behind Miami’s reserve offensive line, which struggled to keep pressure away from him.
That context matters because Ewers showed enough late last season to enter 2026 as an interesting developmental option. Miami selected him in Round 7 of the 2025 NFL Draft, and he completed 55 of 83 passes for 622 yards, three touchdowns, and three interceptions as a rookie.
The larger offense was not exactly humming, either.
Miami finished 25th in PFN’s 2025 Offense Impact rankings with a 70.7 score, leaving new head coach Jeff Hafley with plenty to repair beyond the backup quarterback spot.
Still, Ewers is fighting for a job that matters. Willis is the clear starter, while Ewers entered the preseason as the No. 2 quarterback ahead of Cam Miller. A performance this poor gives the coaching staff another reason to examine every available option.
Nobody should bury a 23-year-old quarterback because of eight preseason throws. But when one completion produces a passer rating of 1.6, even the “it is only August” defense starts needing a little help. Ewers has two more preseason games to provide it.
