Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa to serve as emergency third quarterback vs. Bengals
Tua Tagovailoa will officially be a healthy scratch for the first time in 2025.
The former 2020 fifth overall pick will serve as the emergency third quarterback for Sunday’s showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Four other players – defensive tackle Matthew Butler, tackle Kendall Lamm as well as receivers Nick Westbrook-Ihkine and Tahj Washington – are also all healthy scratches. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) and cornerback Isaiah Johnson (knee) will also not suit up.
Tagovailoa’s demotion to emergency third quarterback comes days after coach Mike McDaniel elected to bench the one-time Pro Bowler in favor of the rookie Quinn Ewers. Through 14 games, Tagovailoa has thrown a league-high 15 interceptions.
“This 2025 team needed me to make the decision solely for what gives us the best chance to win, that includes all players,” McDaniel said Wednesday. “I understand the pros and cons of all the different formats of the way I could play this out, but I need convicted quarterback play, this team needs convicted quarterback play. I thought Quinn gave us the best chance to do that and that’s why I did it.”
Fitzpatrick suffered his calf injury during the final moments of Monday’s game vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers. He didn’t practice all week and McDaniel ruled him out on Friday.
Similarly, Johnson didn’t practice the first two days of the week before he suited up in a limited sense on Friday. He initially received a questionable designation before ultimately being downgraded to out.
This story was originally published December 21, 2025 at 11:46 AM.
