Tua Tagovailoa benching row: Why Zach Wilson is not playing ahead of Quinn Ewers

The Miami Dolphins have made a big call after being eliminated from the postseason

Published on: Dec 18, 2025, 24:08:52 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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The Miami Dolphins have made a big call after being eliminated from the postseason. The team has decided to bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, as per multiple reports. Rookie Quinn Ewers will start instead.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Zach Wilson walks off the field after playing against the New York Jets (AP)

The Dolphins (6-8) lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week. Their playoff hopes are over. Coach Mike McDaniel had already hinted that a change was coming. "The quarterback play last night was not good enough," he said. "So for me, everything is on the table."

Tagovailoa was 22 of 28 for 253 yards with a pair of late touchdowns vs the Steelers. He currently leads the NFL in interceptions (15). The 27-year-old has thrown for 2,660 yards and 20 touchdowns this season. However, the stats don't justify his massive contract. Miami signed Tagovailoa to a four-year, $212 million extension in July 2024 after he led the NFL in passing yards in 2023 with 4,624.

Why Zach Wilson is not playing ahead of Quinn Ewers

Ewers, the seventh-round pick, is set to leapfrog veteran backup Zach Wilson on the depth chart. At first glance, the decision raised eyebrows. Wilson has served as Tagovailoa’s primary backup all season and will now slide behind Ewers.

The rationale, however, is straightforward: the Dolphins want to evaluate upside. Miami already has extensive film on Wilson from his time as a starter with the New York Jets, leaving little mystery about what he brings. Ewers, by contrast, remains largely untested at the professional level.

The rookie out of Texas has seen limited action, making his NFL debut late in a lopsided loss to the Browns, where he completed eight passes for 53 yards. Now, he’ll get an extended audition as the Dolphins look to determine whether he can factor into their plans beyond this season.

For Miami, the calculus is about information and future flexibility. With Tagovailoa’s contract looming large and uncertainty at the position moving forward, the final weeks of the season offer a low-risk opportunity to assess Ewers in live action.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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