Reports: Dolphins bench Tua Tagovailoa, to start rookie QB Quinn Ewers

Field Level Media
17 Dec 2025, 22:35 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images)

The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and will start rookie Quinn Ewers on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

The Dolphins (6-8), eliminated from postseason play, signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212 million extension in July 2024 after he led the NFL in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624.

But amid a disappointing season, coach Mike McDaniel hinted Tuesday a change could be coming after a 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

'The quarterback play last night was not good enough,' McDaniel said. 'So for me, everything is on the table.'

Tagovailoa, 27, completed 6 of 10 passes for 65 yards while throwing his NFL-leading 15th interception through the first three quarters of Monday's game. He finished 22 of 28 for 253 yards with a pair of late touchdowns to tight end Darren Waller.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.

McDaniel said Tuesday that he would choose his quarterback to face the Bengals (4-10) after determining 'who gives us the best chance to win.'

The Dolphins acquired Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Ewers was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 draft out of Texas.

He will be making his first NFL start.

Ewers, 22, made his only NFL appearance on Oct. 19 in mop-up duty in a 31-6 loss at Cleveland. He was 5-of-8 passing for 53 yards.

The Dolphins also have journeyman Zach Wilson, who was the No. 2 overall pick in 2021 by the New York Jets, in the quarterback room.

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.

More Information

International

Section

Top US admiral quits as tensions rise in Latin America

MIAMI, Florida: The admiral in charge of U.S. military forces in Latin America stepped down on December 12, two years before his retirement...

Trump's $100,000 H-1B visa fee faces another lawsuit, in Boston

BOSTON, Massachusetts: A third lawsuit, this one filed in a Massachusetts federal court by California and 19 other U.S. states, was...

Trump administration argues ASL services limit presidential control

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration is defending its decision not to provide real-time American Sign Language interpretation...

NYT defends its work after Trump’s calls reporting ‘treasonous’

NEW YORK CITY, New York: Attacked by President Donald Trump for reporting about his physical condition, The New York Times fired back...

US may ask social media details of visa-free travelers from 40 nations

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Even citizens of countries that can enter the United States without a visa, such as the U.K. and most of Europe,...

14-year prison term for Pakistan’s former ISI chief Faiz Hameed

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: A former chief of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the country's premier spy agency, was sentenced...

Sports

Section