Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa reacts to getting benched

A quarterback change is coming for the Miami Dolphins ahead of Sunday’s showdown against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tua Tagovailoa has been benched by head coach Mike McDaniel. Tagovailoa will now serve as the emergency third quarterback, while Quinn Ewers steps in as the starter, and Zach Wilson continues his role as the backup.

Shortly after the decision was reported on, Tagovailoa had a chance to react. He provided both sides of the coin, expressing disappointment. At the same time, he knows the importance of continuing to be a good teammate and helping Ewers in the coming days.

“Naturally, I’d say I’m disappointed,” Tagovailoa said via Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post. “I think it’s normal, it’s a normal human emotion. Outside of that, I’ve got to do my part. My role right now is to help whoever the quarterback is going to be for this team, to lead this team, helping whatever way I can to help the team win this game on Sunday.”

Clearly upset with the decision, Tagovailoa appears set to still play a role for the Dolphins. Unfortunately, making the playoffs is not a possibility anymore.

Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions this season. His play the past few weeks has not been great, just breaking a drought of games failing to go over 200 passing yards this past week. Wins have been there for the Dolphins but losing to Pittsburgh was the breaking point for McDaniel.

Insert Ewers, who is a rookie out of Texas. He got taken late in Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft after working under Steve Sarkisian for three seasons in Austin. Playing Cincinnati will be his first game action since Oct. 19 vs. the Cleveland Browns, throwing eight passes for a total of 53 yards.

Marcus Spears calls for Tua Tagovailoa to retire

While a lot of focus is on the immediate impact for the Dolphins, questions about Tagovailoa’s future certainly exist. Many wonder if this might be the end of his football career due to previous injuries and multiple concussions. ESPN’s Marcus Spears called for such in a recent tweet.

“If Tua can make his money while still retiring. He should. I don’t think he has any interest in playing football anymore,” Spears wrote on X. “I also don’t blame him. I said then and I say now the concussions he had were not the ones that ever leave you.”