Quarterback change in the NFL: Tua Tagovailoa has to vacate his place with the Miami Dolphins after a disappointing season.
As NFL insiders Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero all report, Tagovailoa is no longer a starter for the Miami Dolphins. Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers is expected to take over starting in Week 16 instead. Head coach Mike McDaniel’s team will then face the Cincinnati Bengals. Then it’s against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Dolphins have a record of six wins and eight losses in the NFL. Miami ranks clearly behind the New England Patriots (11-3) and the Buffalo Bills (10-4) in the AFC East. The playoffs are no longer possible.
Tagovailoa was already counted on by the Dolphins
The QB change in Florida had already been indicated recently. After the disappointing 28-15 loss in Week 15 at the Pittsburgh Steelers, McDaniel Tagovailoa counted. “I think the quarterback’s play last night wasn’t good enough, and that’s all on the table for me,” the head coach said at his press conference on Tuesday.
The bottom line is that Tagovailoa threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns in Pittsburgh. However, both touchdowns came in a fourth quarter in which the Steelers noticeably took their foot off the gas. Tagovailoa threw for just 65 yards (6/10) with one interception in the first three quarters.
Immediately after the game, the quarterback was self-critical: “First, I have to play better. I have to be better for our guys on offense. Second, I’m pretty disappointed in how I prepared our receivers – in terms of the processes, knowing where to line up, and the communication. That’s something I keep stressing to the guys in our own player-led meetings, and I feel like I let them down on that point.”
The 27-year-old has 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions (the highest in the NFL) in 14 appearances this season. The Miami Dolphins selected Tagovailoa with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft.
