Tua Tagovailoa will start for the Dolphins in Week 4, but the team is making sure it has options in case the banged-up quarterback has to leave the game.
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Miami made the unconventional move of dressing three quarterbacks for its "Thursday Night Football" game against the Bengals. Both Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson are on the game-day roster and will be available should Tagovailoa need to exit.
This move signals that the Dolphins are at least somewhat worried about Tagovailoa's health. Were he 100 percent, Thompson would have been inactive, as he was for the team's first three games.
Now, he is available as an insurance policy.
So, what is going on with Tagovailoa and what does the Dolphins' QB depth chart look like? Here's a breakdown of Miami's situation at quarterback as it navigates a short week.
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What are Tua Tagovailoa's injuries?
Tagovailoa is dealing with two injuries ahead of Miami's "Thursday Night Football" matchup with the Bengals. He was listed on the injury report with back and ankle injuries that he suffered during the team's win over the Bills on Sunday.
The back injury was the more notable of the two. Tagovailoa was hit by Bills linebacker Matt Milano and his head hit the turf. Many thought he was concussed after he struggled to stand following the play, but his back reportedly locked up.
Oh no, scared for Tua right now, doesn't look good.pic.twitter.com/iefLwI2PS6
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 25, 2022
Despite the injuries, Tagovailoa was able to log two limited practices this week. He was listed as questionable for the game, but early reports Thursday indicated that he would be able to play.
Still, the Dolphins are making sure they are protected in case either his back or ankle acts up.
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Who is the Dolphins' backup quarterback?
Teddy Bridgewater is Miami's backup quarterback. The Dolphins are Bridgewater's fourth team in the last four seasons, and he has plenty of NFL experience, which Miami wanted to add behind Tagovailoa.
Bridgewater was solid for the Broncos last season. He completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,052 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions while leading Denver to a 7-7 record in his 14 starts. If Tagovailoa has to leave the game, Bridgewater should be able to keep Miami's offense afloat.
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Dolphins QB depth chart
Bridgewater isn't the only backup quarterback on the roster Thursday night. Below is a look at the three-man group the team is dressing against the Bengals.
1. Tua Tagovailoa
Tagovailoa is the Dolphins' undisputed starter. He has performed well to start the 2022 NFL season while leading Miami to a 3-0 record. He has completed 71.3 percent of his passes for 925 yards (second-most in the NFL), eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
While Tagovailoa is set to start Thursday, the team's decision to dress three quarterbacks demonstrates that he is unlikely to be at 100 percent on a short week. Coach by Mike McDaniel and his staff will likely monitor his early performance closely.
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2. Teddy Bridgewater
Should Tagovailoa struggle because of his injuries, Bridgewater would be the next man up. He has a 33-30-1 career record as a starter, so he is plenty experienced enough to guide this team on a short week.
Bridgewater played sparingly in relief of Tagovailoa against the Bills. He failed to complete either of his two passes and took a sack at the end of the first half. Tagovailoa was then deemed fit to return, so Bridgewater returned to the bench.
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3. Skylar Thompson
Thompson is active for a game for the time in his NFL career. The Dolphins spent a seventh-round pick on the Kansas State product in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he was impressive during the preseason.
Thompson completed 75 percent of his passes for 450 yards, five touchdowns and a passer rating of 138.4 in the preseason. The latter two numbers were the best among qualified preseason passers and are part of the reason Thompson made Miami's initial 53-man roster.
Thompson will serve as the third-string quarterback and will become the backup if Tagovailoa has to leave the game. Dressing him gives the Dolphins insurance in case Tagovailoa is too hurt to play and Bridgewater suffers an injury.
Is all that likely? Probably not, but the Dolphins would rather have Thompson available than have to go with an emergency quarterback; therefore, dressing him is a sensible move.
