MIAMI GARDENS ― Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is considering benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
“Everything is on the table,” McDaniel said Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 16, one day after Tua struggled in a loss at Pittsburgh on “Monday Night Football.”
Tagovailoa is having his worst NFL season.
“Not good enough,” McDaniel said of the quarterback play.
McDaniel said a decision is not final. It is likely to be revealed Wednesday, Dec. 17.
McDaniel could turn to veteran Zach Wilson or rookie Quinn Ewers.
Are Miami Dolphins benching Tua Tagovailoa?
McDaniel said it will be determined by the player who gives the team the best chance to win. So while getting Ewers reps could be a positive, McDaniel said he’s not turning games into trial practices.
Tagovailoa has one rushing first down all season.
Wilson and Ewers both offer better mobility. And stronger arms.
To an extent, Tagovailoa’s body has let him down at the age of 27.
“All positions are the same,” McDaniel said. “There’s no one entitled to preferential treatment. And when there’s a better option, we have to, you know, it’s my job to attack that. So, you know, I think there’s still a lot left in the day. Like I said before, 14 hours removed from the game. So, you know, I don’t trivialize any decision I make, particularly, you know, one where someone touches the ball every play.”
Tagovailoa was the fifth overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. And he has put up some impressive passing statistics in the past.
But Tagovailoa leads the NFL in interceptions this season. And his accuracy, timing, mobility and efficiency have regressed.
McDaniel declined to speak on the larger question of if this offseason is the time to look for Tagovailoa’s replacement.
“I just know that at this stage of the season, my expectation was that we’d have a better performance,” McDaniel said.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa may be benched, Mike McDaniel says
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
