Tua Tagovailoa put on IR, Dolphins starting Skylar Thompson against the Seahawks

The Miami Dolphins announced on Tuesday that they have placed starting quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, on injured reserve. This means he will miss at least the next four games, the first being against the Seattle Seahawks. This move comes after the scary hit that Tagovailoa took against the Buffalo Bills during Week 2. This hit resulted in Tagovailoa entering the “fencing position” for the second time in his career. This last concussion, his third officially diagnosed in the NFL, has caused much concern for Tagovailoa’s long term health, with some in the media and in the league recommending that Tagovailoa medically retire. Despite these please, Tagovailoa has no plans to retire.

In a corresponding move, Miami also signed Tyler Huntley off of the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad. For this Sunday against Seattle, however, the Dolphins plan to start Skylar Thompson. Thompson is in his third year in the NFL after being drafted by Miami in the seventh round in 2022 out of Kansas State. Despite starting 2022 as the third string quarterback, Thompson ended up starting in three games for the Dolphins, one coming in the postseason. Thompson was thrown into the starting lineup after the primary backup, Teddy Bridgewater went down with a concussion himself. Bridgewater, however, was starting in place of Tagovailoa who was out because of his two concussions he suffered in 2022.

In his two regular season starts (and other appearances as a backup), Thompson went 60 for 105, for 534 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions. In these two starts, Miami lost to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 6, but won against the New York Jets in Week 18. Thompson went on to start in the Dolphins’ 2022 wild card loss against the Bills. Against Buffalo, Thompson went 18 of 45 for 220 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

It has been two seasons since Thompson has had non-garbage time action in the regular season. Week 3 against the Seahawks will be telling on if Thompson has grown since his rookie year, or if he is still susceptible to giving the ball up to an amped up Mike Macdonald led defense.