Huntley makes case for No. 2 after earlier inquiry. And McDaniel explains Tagovailoa news
Ten quick hits from the Dolphins’ 20-3 victory against Cleveland on Sunday, a win that means Miami will make the playoffs if they win at the Jets and Denver loses at home to Kansas City in Week 18:
▪ Tyler Huntley, who was promoted to the Dolphins’ No. 2 quarterback job earlier this month, said Friday that the Dolphins have indicated they want to re-sign him. What they didn’t tell him is if he will be the unquestioned No. 2.
But with Tua Tagovailoa sidelined by a hip injury, Huntley made a very strong case for that job in 2025, producing a 115.5 passer rating, completing 22 of 26 passes (with one spike to stop the clock) for 225 yards, and rushing for 53 yards on six carries, including a 13-yard TD.
Particularly impressive were his accuracy and timing with Tyreek Hill (9 for 105), Malik Washington (4 for 41) and Jonnu Smith (3 for 26). “I’ve got a good feeling of plays right now; a couple weeks in this offense made a difference,” Huntley said.
A source cautioned Friday not to assume that Huntley definitely would be the team’s No. 2 QB next season, saying he might be but it’s not certain.
In fact, a league source said the Dolphins appreciate the skills of impending free agent Andy Dalton and called the Carolina Panthers about acquiring him after Tagovailoa was concussed in September. Those talks did not lead to anything. Though Dalton obviously has the far better career resume, Huntley’s play Sunday seemingly strengthens his chances of returning as the No. 2.
Dalton, 37, had seven touchdowns, six interceptions and an 82 quarterback rating for Carolina this season, going 1-4 as a starter when Bryce Young was temporarily benched earlier this season. Dalton has a career 87.0 passer rating in 175 games, including 168 starts. He was Cincinnati’s starter the first 10 years of his career.
But Huntley has far more mobility than Dalton, and with the way he played Sunday, there would be nothing objectionable about re-signing him as a No. 2, in part because he would be cheaper than several others for a Dolphins team that will be facing a major salary cap crunch. The Dolphins also could sign a second veteran who’s affordable and competent.
The Dolphins have less than $5 million in 2025 cap space at the moment, and Huntley likely would be more affordable than a handful of players in a free agent class that is set to include Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson (who both likely will get a starting jobs somewhere), Justin Fields, Cooper Rush, Jameis Winston, Mac Jones, Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mason Rudolph, Andy Dalton, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Jarrett Stidham.
Hill said Huntley “can throw the ball on time, read defenses and also make plays with his feet” and also showed leadership with halftime comments.
Besides being cheaper than some options, one other advantage that Huntley now has is he knows an offense that he said \Friday is “very complex.”
Hill said that’s now clear: “He understands how guys run their routes now.”
Asked Friday what he looks for in a backup quarterback, Mike McDaniel said: “I think you’re looking for — being a backup quarterback is one of the more difficult tasks that exist in football. So the baseline to me is that you have to have guys that are self-motivated to stay prepared without losing the edge of, you can have one, two, three, four games in a row, every single game you have to be ready.
“And that means you have to have additional reps on top of any reps you get in practice. That you have to be a self-starter in that regard or get guys together so to me, I think it’s supremely important that the backup quarterback is a leader that his teammates believe in. I think it’s one of the reasons why ‘Snoop’ [Tyler Huntley] won the job during the season, and I think he exemplified the characteristics that were reminiscent of what we had the last couple years.”
▪ McDaniel said “surgery is not currently on the table” for Tagovailoa but said he has “no idea” whether he would play at the Jets next weekend. McDaniel said it’s not related to the injury to the same hip that required surgery at Alabama.
McDaniel’s explanation for why Tagovailoa did not play: “The hip injury, which he sustained in the Houston game, was made worse on one particular play against the 49ers. You see the injury is a little worse and try to forecast how things will heal... based on the previous week’s forecast. We were hoping and anticipating for a timeline similar to that. As the week progressed, we didn’t seem the improvement we [expected].
“Ultimately he absolutely wanted to play. Wasn’t a pain tolerance thing. He not only was super susceptible to a much more significant injury, but a major factor was the lack of strength due to the injury and his inability to protect himself and his teammates within the pocket doing the things he normally has to do. From a medical perspective, it was not an option for him to play.”
▪ Hill said he made a change in his practice routine: “I decided not take any days off. That’s accountability on my part and also the head coach. I’m not going to take full credit for it. Wednesday and Thursday are a real good time to get good reps with the quarterbacks. Take advantage of that and today showed. I’m really proud of that. I took reps with both of the guys — Tua and Snoop.”
Hill said last week that he needed to practice more, after taking off some Wednesdays as rest days this year.
He also has been slowed by a wrist injury but has said he doesn’t expect to need surgery.
▪ Three personnel moves by general manager Chris Grier looked very good on Sunday:
1). The decision to add Calais Campbell in May. He had a tackle for loss and forced two premature throws, including one that resulted in intentional grounding.
2). The decision to part with Jerome Baker and upgrade with Jordyn Brooks, who had 10 tackles, giving him 138 for the season.
3). Releasing David Long Jr. and signing Tyrel Dodson, who had 15 tackles and an interception filling in for injured Anthony Walker Jr.
▪ The Dolphins’ cornerback play was very good, including a nifty knock-down by Kader Kohou, and the play of the game — Jalen Ramsey poking away a throw to Jerry Jeudy on fourth-and-goal with Cleveland down 10 in the fourth quarter.
For the season, quarterbacks have just a 73.7 passer rating against Kohou, 90.5 against Ramsey. Dorian Thompson Robinson had a 50.8 passer rating, with 170 yards passing and the Dodson interception.
▪ Beyond Terron Armstead leaving with a knee injury, two other major negatives during the game:
1). For the sixth time in seven games, the offensive line couldn’t get any push in the running game. Remove Huntley’s rushing yardage, and Miami ran 20 times for 22 yards.
2). The penalties — 11 for 94 — which foiled several first-half drives. Penalties by center Aaron Brewer and Armstead were particularly hurtful..
▪ From a play-calling standpoint, there has been nothing perhaps more exasperating than the choices made on third- and fourth-and-short, including the pitch to De’Von Achane that lost yardage on a fourth-and-2.
Jeff Wilson Jr. converted a third-and-2 against the 49ers, and it’s puzzling that he isn’t Miami primary option on short-yardage situations because of his toughness and the rugged nature of his style and physique.
Miami (8-8) is now 5 for 13 on fourth-and-1 or 2, which is 31st in the league.
▪ Quick stuff, Part 1: Hill returned a punt for 18 yards, only the fourth punt he has returned as a Dolphin... River Cracraft caught one pass for 16 yards, further bolstering this impressive stat: Of his 28 receptions as a Dolphin, 20 have gone for first downs.
▪ Quick stuff, Part 2: Jonnu Smith — who already set Dolphins single-season tight end records for receiving yards and receptions — tied Keith Jackson and Anthony Fasano for most TD catches by a Dolphins tight end in a single season with his seventh... The date and time of the Week 18 game at the Jets will be announced Sunday night... With the Chargers clinching second in the AFC West, that means they will play at the Dolphins next season, which had been the final unknown piece of Miami’s 2025 schedule.
This story was originally published December 29, 2024 at 8:08 PM.
