The Miami Dolphins made a major decision on Wednesday, as Mike McDaniel alluded to the day prior, the Dolphins have officially benched Tua Tagovailoa for the remainder of the season, beginning in Week 16.
As NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported, with a matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, rookie seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers will get the chance for his first NFL start.
But why did the Dolphins choose Ewers over current backup quarterback Zach Wilson? He was Tagovailoa's backup, and now he'll back up Ewers. The reason why the Dolphins chose Ewers over Wilson can be explained with one word: upside.
Why Dolphins chose Quinn Ewers over Zach Wilson for starting QB job after Tua Tagovailoa's benching
With Tagovailoa now on the bench, the Dolphins are turning to Ewers to finish out the regular season for Miami. McDaniel has a new quarterback to work with, and Ewers, the seventh-round rookie out of Texas, gets his first NFL start in Week 16.
He's now the starting quarterback in Miami over Wilson, thanks to a simple reason. The Dolphins, with just three weeks left, want to see what Ewers looks like as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
There are multiple seasons of tape on Wilson as a starter with the New York Jets, but Ewers has yet to make an NFL start. Getting an extended look at Ewers could give the Dolphins their short-term or even long-term answer at the QB position.
Ewers has already made his NFL debut, throwing for 53 yards on eight attempts against the Cleveland Browns at the end of a brutal blowout.
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But now, the Dolphins' rookie will get a chance to start a game and showcase his potential to the organization as he fights for a job in 2026.
The book is essentially written on Wilson, whereas Ewers is an unknown with some upside. If he looks good, then the Dolphins have an answer at quarterback for 2026. If he doesn't play well, then the Dolphins know they need to pivot.
Despite spending $6 million on Wilson to be a backup quarterback in Miami, the Dolphins are handing the keys to the offense to Ewers. It makes sense for the Dolphins, as the upside with Ewers is significantly higher than with Wilson.
Ewers is the higher-upside option for the Dolphins, and with three more years under contract, there's no time like the present to see what the rookie seventh-rounder from the Texas Longhorns can provide for Miami.
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