Dolphins promote Quinn Ewers to backup QB behind Tua Tagovailoa vs. Browns

Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers will serve as Tua Tagovailoa‘s backup against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Until now, Ewers has spent his rookie season as the Dolphins’ QB3, behind both Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson.

The game will be Ewers’ first listed as an active player on the roster. The Dolphins are desperate for a win after starting the season with a 1-5 record.

It’s been a rocky start for Tagovailoa, who has completed 69.8% of his pass attempts for 1,213 yards and 11 touchdowns, compared to seven interceptions. In the Dolphins’ 29-27 loss to the Chargers last week, Tagovailoa threw three interceptions, compared to one TD.

Tagovailoa has not only had issues on the field this season, but in the press conference room as well. After the Dolphins’ loss last week, the former Alabama standout called out his teammates for failing to attend a players-only meeting.

“Well, I think it starts with the leadership and helping articulate that for the guys,” Tagovailoa said. “And then what we’re were expecting out of the guys, right? We’re expecting this, are we getting that, are we not getting that?

“We have guys showing up to player-only meetings late, guys not showing up to player-only meetings. Like, there’s a lot that goes into that. Do we have to make this mandatory, do we not have to make this mandatory? So it’s a lot of things of that nature that we’ve gotta get cleaned up, and it starts with the little things like that.”

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was far from happy with Tagovailoa’s comments. On Monday, McDaniel addressed his QB1’s public criticism of his teammates.

“Regardless of intent and what was on Tua’s mind, after a loss as the franchise quarterback, that’s not the forum to displace that,” McDaniel said. “He knows that now. I honestly believe there was no ill intention, but you’re talking about a misguided representation of player-orchestrated film sessions.”

With the Dolphins’ decision to move Quinn Ewers up on the depth chart, it appears Tagovailoa may be on thin ice. He’ll be looking to make up for his lackluster performance last week as the Dolphins square off against the Browns at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. The game will air live on CBS.