Dolphins’ McDaniel updates quarterback situation and injuries, play-calling and more
With Tua Tagovailoa on injured reserve and Skylar Thompson dealing with a painful rib injury, coach Mike McDaniel said it’s undetermined who will start at quarterback next Monday against Tennessee.
Thompson had trouble dressing after Sunday’s loss in Seattle because of the rib discomfort, leaving his status in question for the immediate future.
But when McDaniel was asked if Tim Boyle or Tyler Huntley will start against the Titans, McDaniel didn’t rule out Thompson, calling his status “more day to day” than longterm, and indicated he wasn’t ready to give an answer on the starter against Tennessee (7:15 p.m., ESPN).
“Skylar progresses, that leaves variables more vague,” McDaniel said. “We have an important 48 hours to see where he’s at and get in front of the rest of the quarterback room. We’ll talk to coaches and players and get the most comfortable with the varied uncertainty.”
And if Thompson cannot play, will it be an open competition between Boyle and Huntley? That will not happen because McDaniel wants to give the majority of reps to one quarterback, McDaniel indicated.
“You have to make a decision because of the limited reps and splitting it up,” McDaniel said. “There’s also the scenario of Skylar coming back but in a limited fashion but that makes it even more gray. You would have to make a decision before you like to, to give the players a chance to adequately perform” on Monday.
Huntley starting against the Titans is “a possibility for sure,” McDaniel said.
Was McDaniel surprised by the (poor) quarterback play in the 24-3 loss to Seattle?
“I was surprised by a bunch of things,” he said. “You go into a game planning for more than three points.”
Asked why Boyle was the No. 2 quarterback against Seattle and why Huntley was the inactive emergency third quarterback, McDaniel mentioned Huntley having only a few days to learn the offense and said: “Tim was the better option for that moment on that day. We used the week to assess and wanted to be fair to all parties. For a guy getting there on Tuesday to feel comfortable leading the offense, you let it play out.”
Boyle joined the Dolphins’ practice squad on Aug. 28 and was signed to the 53-man roster on Saturday.
McDaniel indicated that no decision has been made about whether to bring in another quarterback. He said general manager Chris Grier “is steadily at work” and “those conversations will continue through... Wednesday”
McDaniel addressed other issues:
▪ Asked whether he might give up play-calling duties, McDaniel gave no indication that he was considering that.
“I take the responsibilities super serious,” he said. “I wouldn’t hesitate to change that procedure, because it’s my call, if I thought someone else gave the team a better chance to win. It would be irresponsible if I just went with the results.”
The Dolphins, who have played five of their 12 quarters without Tagovailoa, are last in the league in scoring.
Regarding who should call the plays, McDaniel said he expects “those questions when production isn’t near where anyone wants.”
▪ Left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller remain in concussion protocol.
“No timelines,” McDaniel said, noting he spoke with both player on Tuesday. “Day to day. Making sure they get back to full health. I couldn’t rule anybody out for anything.”
▪ Tagovailoa is meeting with neurologists this week, McDaniel said. Because he’s on injured reserve, he must miss at least three more games,
▪ Receiver Odell Beckham Jr., working his way back from an offseason procedure, is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list after the Tennessee game.
“I’m optimistic when his window opens up,” McDaniel said. “We will see how his body responds. He hasn’t had the setbacks we made sure to avoid.”
This story was originally published September 24, 2024 at 1:12 PM.
