Given the health status of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the idea of the Miami Dolphins keeping three quarterbacks seems obvious. However, keeping two quarterbacks on the active roster has been the status quo in recent years.
However, because of an impressive training camp and preseason, Skylar Thompson made the active roster along with Teddy Bridgewater. Given the still unresolved marina incident with Tyreek Hill, the decision of whether to keep three quarterbacks on the active roster is an intriguing matter.
3 Factors Impacting Whether the Miami Dolphins Keep Three Quarterbacks
The Health of Tua Tagovailoa
Pundits have said that Tagovailoa is safer this coming year because he learned how to fall while not impacting his head. This remains to be seen in a live game situation, however.
Having a confident and effective backup is necessary if a team wants to pursue the Super Bowl. Take Nick Foles and the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles as an example.
Another honorable mention is Frank Reich, who replaced an injured Jim Kelly, to win the Buffalo Bills‘ first two playoff games in 1992. One of those wins was the second-largest point differential to overcome in NFL history (32 points). After leading that comeback and beating the then-Houston Oilers, Reich led the Bills to a 21-3 thumping of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thus, the question becomes: do the Miami Dolphins have a confident and capable signal-caller in any of their backup quarterbacks?
The reality is this: all three Dolphins quarterbacks wound up injured last season. Newcomer Mike White might not fix this issue, as he missed time due to injury last season with the New York Jets too. Will the Dolphins risk potentially having only two options at quarterback and having to put a position player as a gap-filler? That depends on many factors, one of which is the status of Tyreek Hill.
The Allegedly Aggressive Dolphin At the Marina
By now, Dolphins fans have heard that Hill allegedly slapped a marina worker. Due to the NFL’s personal conduct policy, Hill could face an undetermined suspension this season. That means one more weapon the Dolphins could be without.
Should the Miami Dolphins keep three quarterbacks on the roster, this would give Skylar Thompson an opportunity to be utilized in a wildcat formation, with White, Tagovailoa, or both. While it is unlikely Miami would put all three on the field at one time, it is certainly a fun idea.
The Ambiguous Running Back Situation
In the even more confusing and ambiguous sector of the Miami Dolphins running back corps, the situation has not gotten any clearer.
Dalvin Cook sent out a tweet saying he declined a visit. The problem with that is Cook never blatantly stated “who” he declined a visit with. His statement was with regard to pundits who were discussing the Jets and Dolphins.
Even when asked to elaborate, Cook, of course, did not. This means, with Cook, the Dolphins carry at least three running backs. Without him, potentially as many as four. If the Dolphins do not sign Cook and choose to go with four, that eats up another spot a third-string quarterback could occupy.
Keeping two quarterbacks to gain an extra receiver or running back seems like an unfathomable idea. Could the Miami Dolphins keep Thompson on the practice squad as their final quarterback?
Yes, as one of their four protected players. However, having three quarterbacks with injury histories is still better than having only two on the active roster.
As a mobile quarterback, keeping Thompson could allow Mike McDaniel to elevate his playcalling. Utilizing Thompson, along with Raheem Mostert, Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Braxton Berrios, could prove effective in a Wildcat formation.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
