The Miami Dolphins are in a tough spot, sitting at a disappointing 1-5. One can practically feel the tension, especially with the conversations that take place in the locker room. The team is not just losing in the season, but they are also in danger of missing the playoffs for the second year in a row. The Dolphins have decided to promote a rookie quarterback, Quinn Ewers, to the primary backup role behind starter Tua Tagovailoa. 

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed the change, posting on his X account: 

“The #Dolphins are making a change to their QB depth chart for today’s game, as Quinn Ewers will serve as the backup to Tua Tagovailoa for their matchup against the #Browns, per the insiders. This is the first game active for the rookie seventh-rounder.“

The question everyone’s asking is, Why the change now? It’s not that Tua Tagovailoa has been completely ineffective. He’s put up decent stats, over 1,200 passing yards, and 11 touchdowns. The problem lies in the costly mistakes and the beating he’s taken. Throwing seven interceptions and being sacked a whopping 13 times has plummeted his QB rating to a shaky 50.7. Simply put, the turnovers and hits are derailing the offense.

Quarterback Quinn Ewers was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round, 231st overall, of the 2025 NFL Draft. He signed a four-year rookie contract worth approximately $4.33 million. Ewers played at Texas, where he earned two second-team All-Conference selections and led the Longhorns to two College Football Playoff appearances.

Beyond the stats, there’s a clear rift between the coach and the quarterback. Head coach Mike McDaniel was reportedly far from happy with Tagovailoa’s comments after their latest 29-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Tua seemingly threw the team under the bus for their poor performance, causing major concerns about his leadership and accountability within the organization.

“After a loss as the franchise quarterback, that’s not the forum to displace that,” McDaniel said. “I think he knows that now. I do believe there was no ill intention, but you’re talking about a misguided representation of player-orchestrated film sessions.”

This week, Tagovailoa is clearly on thin ice, needing dramatic improvement to solidify his job. The promotion of rookie Quinn Ewers is a direct consequence of this turmoil. Ewers will be an active, listed player on the roster for the first time, one step closer to potentially getting a shot in a regular-season game.

Quinn Ewers’ promotion results in Zach Wilson’s demotion

The most telling sign of how worried the Miami Dolphins are isn’t the final score—it’s who they’re keeping on the bench. The recent shake-up in their quarterback lineup hits hardest for Zach Wilson, who’s been effectively benched, not just as the backup, but as the emergency third-stringer, making him inactive for today’s crucial game against the Cleveland Browns.

Think about the sting of that demotion. The team invested a guaranteed $6 million this offseason, betting on Wilson to be their clear, reliable second-in-command. Now, just weeks into the season, he’s been dropped to third string. Even though he’d been the primary backup all summer and even saw action in one game, the whispers about his future in Miami have now become shouts.

For Wilson, this must feel like a gut punch, a cruel replay of his recent past. He spent nearly the entire 2024 season as a healthy scratch in Denver, and after barely getting a look in Miami, he’s right back in the same lonely spot. What is more painful for the player is that Quin Ewers, who has taken the emergency QB spot, too, has to prove himself on the team. Therefore, his demotion isn’t something easy to accept.