2025 NFL Week 16: Dolphins benching QB Tua Tagovailoa, starting rookie Quinn Ewers
The Miami Dolphins will bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in favour of rookie Quinn Ewers for a Week 16 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Here’s what you need to know.
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Struggling offence
Ewers has mostly been used as Miami’s emergency quarterback this season behind Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson.
A seventh-round pick in this year’s draft, the 22-year-old served as the team’s backup in Week 7 and completed five of eight passes for 53 yards in a 31-6 loss against the Cleveland Browns.
The move comes with the Dolphins averaging just 181.3 passing yards per game through 15 weeks, the seventh-worst mark in the NFL.
Tagovailoa threw his NFL-leading 15th interception of the season in a 28-15 loss in Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Head coach Mike McDaniel was noncommittal on his starting quarterback on Tuesday.
“I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough, and so for me, everything’s on the table,” McDaniel said.
It’s not clear if Tagovailoa or Wilson will serve as Ewers backup.
Miami Dolphins
The 6-8 Dolphins have been a mess this season. They are already eliminated from playoff contention and McDaniel is firmly on the hot seat.
Miami’s current regular season win total is listed at 7.5, with the Over priced at +155.
Despite their struggles, picking up two wins in their final three games might not be far fetched. This week they are at home against a Bengals squad that just got shutout by Baltimore, next week they’re back at home against the injury-riddled Buccaneers and they close their season out in New England against a Pats team that will likely be resting their starters for the playoffs.
Off-season questions
Miami now faces some tough decisions this off-season as they are firmly committed to Tagovailoa, who signed a four-year, $212.1 million contract extension in 2024.
The 27-year-old led the NFL in passing yards in 2023, but he’s struggled to stay healthy. He missed a career-high six games last year and while he’s been fairly durable in 2025, his 15 interceptions in 14 games is a career-high.
Tagovailoa is guaranteed $54 million next year and $3 million of his 2027 salary will become guaranteed on March 15 next year.
If the Dolphins decide to release Tagovailoa next year, they would be charged a $99 million dead cap hit. A post-June 1 release will lower the charge to 67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.
