The Miami Dolphins’ season struggle continued on Monday, and as a result, Tua Tagovailoa is now getting benched. The Dolphins lost 15-28 against the Steelers and were eliminated from playoff contention.
Tua, who has been their primary starter at the quarterback position, was sacked four times during the Pittsburgh game. He went 22 of 28 for 253 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
This has been Tua’s worst statistical season, and the weight of poor performances and the team losing games has finally caught up to him. Even though not much can change for the Dolphins from here, Tua will be benched, making way for another quarterback.
As per the reports, coach Mike McDaniel has decided that rookie Quinn Ewers will take over the starting responsibilities for the Dolphins in the next game against the Bengals. As far as their depth at the position is concerned, the Dolphins have three key options.
- Tua Tagovailoa
- Zach Wilson (Backup)
- Quinn Ewers (Third String)
Wilson has been Tua’s primary backup throughout the season. However, at this point in the season, the organization is allowing Ewers, the seventh round, 231st pick in the draft, to step up.
With Tua being sent to the bench, the remaining two players offer different advantages. Ewers, in his rookie year, needs to spend more time on the field so that he gets the necessary experience, which can be beneficial for the franchise next season.
In addition to that, it can also help the franchise assess Ewers’ potential and work on the areas where he can be better. Wilson, on the other hand, already comes with some experience. Putting him on the field could help the struggling franchise close out the season on a high note.
Tua Tagovailoa Revealed Miami’s Problems
The longstanding narrative around Miami has been that the team is full of professionals who aren’t as concerned with their work as they should be. In October, when they lost against the Chargers, Tua came forward and put everyone on blast.
During a press conference, the quarterback talked about the lack of professionalism and commitment that he had witnessed within the organization. He was blunt in his assessment, which he later had to apologize for.
“I think it starts with the leadership and helping articulate that for the guys and then what we’re expecting out of the guys,” he SAID. “We have guys showing up to players-only meetings late, guys not showing up to players-only meeting.”
Tua Tagovailoa tells reporters that Dolphins players have been late and/or skipping players-only meetings in recent weeks.
Eye-opening example of problems with 1-5 Miami Dolphins. Tua begins answer: “it starts with the leadership.” (H/T @MiamiDolphins). pic.twitter.com/qVbFLVLxAT
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 12, 2025
Lack of planning and execution on the field is not even their biggest problem. When the basics are so damaged within a franchise, a 6-8 season record doesn’t seem so awful.
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