Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel reveals starter between Tua Tagovailoa, Quinn Ewers after QB benching vs. Browns

The Miami Dolphins (1-6) are sticking with Tua Tagovailoa as their starting quarterback, head coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday. McDaniel pulled Tagovailoa from Sunday’s 31-6 Week 7 road defeat to the Cleveland Browns (2-5) after he threw three interceptions in a single game for the second time in his career.

“He is going to take the snaps this week, and he is going to be a starter this week, and my expectation is that we don’t throw 10 picks,” McDaniel said, via Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.

McDaniel benched Tagovailoa with about eight minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Inserted under center was rookie Quinn Ewers, who recently supplanted Zach Wilson as Miami’s backup. Ewers completed 5-of-8 passes for 53 yards. Tagovailoa, meanwhile, went 12-of-23 for 100 yards, posting a career-low 24.1 passer rating. Tagovailoa is tied for the league lead with 10 interceptions.

“Definitely not happy, not proud of where I’m at with my play, with how I’ve gone about things this year,” Tagovailoa said. “I know I have to be a lot better, and I’ve been better for the Miami Dolphins years past. But this isn’t years past, this is this year. Just trying to maneuver everything and trying to build a collection of guys to kind of bring along with me, and I have to be able to multitask if that makes sense.

“To be able to do that, while continuing to get whatever it was last year and the years prior for myself to get going again. And get in that flow.”

Tua Tagovailoa keeping starting job amid tough stretch of play

Two seasons ago, the Dolphins owned the NFL‘s No. 1 ranked offense. They’ve plummeted to 27th this season. It’s a big reason why there are questions about McDaniel’s job security. For now, no changes are coming on that front, the same way McDaniel isn’t making a change when it comes to Tagovailoa.

But after what McDaniel called a “very humbling” defeat, things could look different this Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons (3-3). McDaniel is open to anything.

“Everything is on the table,” McDaniel said. “When you go to a game you fully know you have the capability to win and get handed a very, very humbling loss.”