With the Miami Dolphins officially eliminated from playoff contention, the focus for the team will be shifting over the final few weeks of the regular season. With nothing left to play for, there are now questions regarding whether quarterback Tua Tagovailoa should continue to be the starter, or if the team should see what they have in Quinn Ewers.
Dolphins Eliminated, Could Bench Tagovailoa For Final Stretch
For years, Tagovailoa has been positioned as the face of the franchise. At his best, he’s an efficient distributor who thrives in rhythm and maximizes Miami’s speed-based offense. But as the seasons have passed, the long-term concerns have only grown louder. Durability questions haven’t gone away, and his failure to deliver in big moments has ultimately held the Dolphins back from truly competing.
I’m not even convinced Tua Tagovailoa is even a starting level QB in this league anymore
No mobility, poor decisions every single game, he just ain’t it.
— Daniel Eliesen (@EliesenDan) December 16, 2025
Now that Miami has nothing tangible to play for in the standings, continuing to start Tua risks serving no real purpose. It has becoming increasingly likely over the past few months that the Dolphins will move on from Tagovailoa in the coming years, given his regression in play and his inability to elevate his teammates.
While he can’t be released next offseason without Miami taking on a massive dead cap hit, there is a chance that the team brings in competition for Tua in 2026. And if they want to get started on the evaluation process, there may be no better time than the present.
Eyes Would Be On Quinn Ewers For Final Weeks
That’s where Quinn Ewers enters the conversation. With their 7th round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dolphins picked the quarterback out of Texas, who figured to provide nothing more than depth for the team in his rookie season. But now that Miami’s quarterback room seems destined for an overhaul, it may be worth inserting Ewers into the lineup in order to get him some regular season reps.
Can he operate the offense? Does his arm talent translate against starting-caliber defenses? Even if the answers aren’t all positive, they are valuable. Knowing what you don’t have is just as important as knowing what you do.
If the Dolphins lose tonight and are officially eliminated from playoff contention, you might as well start Quinn Ewers the rest of the way to see what you have. #PhinsUp
— Reason (@the_real_reason) December 16, 2025
Ewers was inserted into the Dolphins’ game against the Cleveland Browns on October 19th, and he completed five of his eight passing attempts in his first action at the professional level. He didn’t throw a touchdown or an interception, but was sacked twice. It remains the only playing time on his resume.
Benching Tua wouldn’t have to be framed as a punishment or a definitive breakup. If Tagovailoa returns in 2026 as the starter, so be it. But if Miami is already leaning toward a reset, delaying evaluation only prolongs uncertainty.
