Dolphins must rely on 'next man up' with the future of concussed Tua Tagovailoa unknown

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Mike McDaniel admitted he found it hard to focus on football after watching his quarterback go down with his third concussion in three years.

The Miami Dolphins head coach walked a wobbly Tua Tagovailoa to the sideline after the player took a hard hit on the field and appeared to bang his head against the ground in a scary scene in the third quarter of Thursday's 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

McDaniel's concern immediately after was the health of his quarterback, who has a history of sustaining head injuries, even with so many factors concerning where the Dolphins go from here still unclear.

“When I tell you that absolutely it’s very, very tough," McDaniel said during an emotional news conference about 10 hours after Tagovailoa's concussion. "At the same time, there’s not a moment that goes by that I don’t take with absolute severity and sincerity how many people are counting on me.

"In this job, honestly, a lot of people can do this job when things are going awesome. There’s a lot of people. I think it’s important that when you sign up for it, that you recognize that as a leader, it actually only matters when times are tough. That’s when you need to — I think that it’s moments like these that you really have to tap into that to handle it appropriately and in ways that in hindsight I won’t regret.”

McDaniel didn't have many details about what Tagovailoa's injury means long term or short term. The only thing he offered with certainty was that Tagovailoa will not be available when Miami travels to face Seattle on Sept. 22, and that the Dolphins will bring in another quarterback eventually.

Until that happens, it's on backup quarterback Skylar Thompson to lead a team that had expectations of contention before the season started.

“We’re just evaluating the pros and cons for the different situations and getting through all those possibilities to do the best thing for the team," McDaniel said, "but as it stands today, I’m expecting that Skylar is the next man up.”

Thompson completed 8 of 14 passes for 80 yards when he came in for Tagovailoa on Thursday night.

The Dolphins' seventh-round pick got starting experience as a rookie in 2022, when Tagovailoa was diagnosed with two concussions and then-No. 2 quarterback Teddy Bridgewater battled injuries as well.

Thompson played in eight games and made three starts, including in Miami's loss to the Bills in the wild-card round. Thompson did not play in 2023, operating as the team’s emergency quarterback in all 18 games.

“What’s going to lie ahead, who knows, but man, I’m confident, though,” Thompson said. “I feel like I’m ready for whatever’s to come. I’m going to prepare and work hard and do everything I can to lead this team and do my job.”

Thompson, who beat out Mike White — now with the Bills — for the backup role during training camp, said he feels ready to run the entirety of the Dolphins' complex playbook that includes various types of shifts and motions.

“I’ve gotten three years under my belt now of digesting that and learning it,” Thompson said. “Yeah, I feel like I’m fully equipped to run whatever Mike (McDaniel) wants and not be limited at all whenever I’m in the game.”

What's working

Getting the ball to De'Von Achane in both the run and passing game has sparked the Dolphins in both of their games to start the season. Achane has 32 carries for 120 yards and 14 catches for 145 yards in two games. He also has a receiving and rushing touchdown.

What needs help

Ball security. Tagovailoa turned the ball over three times — twice in the first half — leading to 17 Bills points. It was only the third time in his career that the quarterback has had three turnovers in a single game (against the Jets in 2021 and against Green Bay in 2022).

Stock up

Rookie LB Chop Robinson. The Dolphins' 2024 first-round pick flashed his potential, using his quickness to burst past Bills offensive linemen — including Pro Bowl left tackle Dion Dawkins — on several plays. Robinson finished with a pair of tackles and a tackle for loss.

Stock down

Receivers. Tagovailoa's first two interceptions were on throws intended for Grant DuBose and Robbie Chosen. Neither player was with the Dolphins during training camp or the preseason. The Dolphins were in search of a reliable third receiving option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and brought in veteran Odell Beckham Jr. in the offseason to fit that role. Beckham will miss at least two more games on the physically unable to perform list, leaving Miami with depth concerns at receiver, especially on nights like Thursday when both Hill and Waddle were limited by Buffalo’s defense.

Injuries

Veteran left tackle Terron Armstead injured his shoulder in the second half. McDaniel said he doesn't anticipate the injury to sideline Armstead for long.

Key numbers

1-12 — The Dolphins’ record against the Bills in their last 13 meetings, including playoffs.

45-33 — The Dolphins’ record against every other NFL team in that span.

Next steps

The Dolphins will seek short-term clarity on Tagovailoa in the coming days, then start the process of preparing for a Sept. 22 game at Seattle.