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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel will reportedly bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for rookie Quinn Ewers ahead of Sunday's (December 21) game against the Cincinnati Bengals, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter on Wednesday (December 17).
"A major move in Miami: the Dolphins are benching QB Tua Tagovailoa and turning to Quinn Ewers as their new starting QB, per sources. Ewers’ first start comes Sunday vs. the Bengals," Schefter wrote on his X account.
Tagovailoa, who was selected by the Dolphins at No. 5 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft, has gone 6-8 as a starter and thrown for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and a career-worst 15 interceptions in 2025, which included 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 22 of 28 passing during Miami's 28-15 Monday Night Football loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 15.
"I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough, and so for me, everything's on the table," McDaniel said while addressing reporters on Tuesday (December 16) prior to reports confirming his decision.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.1 million extension prior to the 2024 season -- at which point he was coming off an NFL-best 4,624-yard and career-best 29 touchdown season in 2023 -- and is already guaranteed $54 million in 2026, with his 2027 salary becoming guaranteed as of March 15, 2026. The Dolphins would face a $99 million dead cap charge if Tagovailoa is released next year, though a post-June 1 release would lower the total to $67.4 million and $31.8 million in 2027.
Ewers, 22, was selected by the Dolphins at No. 231 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft after three seasons at the University of Texas, having been selected Second-team All-SEC in 2024 and Second-team All-Big-12 in 2023. The Texas native was initially singed to Ohio State as the consensus No. 1 overall prospect and the first since former Texas standout Vince Young to receive a perfect 1.000 247Sports composite rating.
It wasn't immediately unclear whether Tagovailoa or Zach Wilson would serve as the Dolphins' backup in Week 16.