Dolphins are benching Tua Tagovailoa for rookie Quinn Ewers against the Bengals
Written by laserteam on December 18, 2025
(AP) – (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was unsure what his future with the team will look like following Wednesday’s benching for rookie Quinn Ewers.
For now, the former first-round draft pick said he will contribute in whatever way he can despite his disappointment with how this season has gone.
“Disappointed,” Tagovailoa said at his locker about coach Mike McDaniel’s decision to demote him for Ewers. “I mean, I’m not happy about it, but it’s something out of my control.”
The decision came after Tagovailoa struggled in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, which eliminated Miami (6-8) from postseason contention. Ewers, a seventh-round pick by Miami earlier this year, will make his first career start Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, McDaniel said Wednesday.
Zach Wilson, who has been Miami’s No. 2 quarterback most of the season, will back up Ewers. Tagovailoa will be the emergency third quarterback.
“I’m super thankful that the staff believes in me to go out there and give us an opportunity to go win an NFL football game,” Ewers said. “And I know going back on it, telling my 10-year-old, 12-year-old self the opportunity that I have in front of me, he’d be pretty stoked.”
Tagovailoa was drafted by Miami after winning a national championship during a successful college career at Alabama, and he was expected to be the key piece that would end years of disappointment for the Dolphins, who have the league’s longest playoff-win drought.
