The Miami Dolphins are facing a reality that will see quarterback Tua Tagovailoa miss Week 3 and presumably significantly more time after he suffered his third recorded concussion in the NFL during Thursday Night Football.
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Tagovailoa attempted to pick up a first down in the third quarter and ran head-first into Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. The result of the hit led to another scary concussion for Tagovailoa, meaning that he will now need to clear concussion protocol to play again this season.
With Tagovailoa expected to miss significant time with yet another scary concussion, the Dolphins will now need to seek another quarterback, as Skylar Thompson is the only quarterback currently on the roster. The Dolphins had Mike White, but his struggles in the preseason led to the team waiving the signal caller, who ironically ended up with the Bills.
That said, here are some quarterbacks the Dolphins should target to add depth and a potential starter for Week 3 and beyond.
Ryan Tannehill, Free Agent
BUFFALO, NY – DECEMBER 30: Ryan Tannehill #17 of the Miami Dolphins screams during NFL game action against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field on December 30, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. Ryan Tannehill is one of five quarterbacks the Dolphins should sign after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion.
Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
One of the most obvious choices the Dolphins can consider in terms of a free agent quarterback is none other than former Dolphins signal caller Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill was the Dolphins’ first-round pick in 2012 and spent six seasons under center with the team.
In terms of available quarterbacks, Tannehill is the most viable, as well. Despite his struggles with the Tennessee Titans that led to his becoming a free agent, he is a veteran the Dolphins should immediately call.
Tannehill has playoff experience with the Titans and has plenty of familiarity with the Dolphins already. Granted, he has not played with the current roster, but he knows very well what the organization would expect from him.
Tannehill ended his time in Miami with 20,434 yards, 123 touchdowns, and 75 interceptions. He also posted a 62.8 completion percentage.
Trey Lance, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys traded for Trey Lance in 2023, but he has not found a way to work his way up the depth chart. Lance currently sits behind Cooper Rush as the third-string quarterback and is unlikely to see any kind of action for the foreseeable future.
Dak Prescott’s future was being questioned as he was awaiting a new deal, which finally happened. He was made the highest-paid player in NFL history, locking up his future with the Cowboys.
Considering Rush is the clear backup for Prescott, the Cowboys might be more willing to allow Lance to head to his third team. The Dolphins would be smart to take a flier on the former top-three pick.
Joe Flacco, Indianapolis Colts
Joe Flacco came out of nowhere in 2023, taking over for the injured Deshaun Watson and putting together a string of games for the Cleveland Browns that led to his receiving Comeback Player of the Year.
Flacco posted 1,616 yards, 16 touchdowns, and eight interceptions in five games. Despite being 39 years old and a longtime veteran, he can still sling the ball. The Dolphins might have a harder time pulling Flacco away from the Colts as he is the backup for Anthony Richardson, but they should still do their due diligence in making a call about his availability.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are currently set at quarterback, as they have Matthew Stafford and Stetson Bennett as the backup quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo was meant to be the backup for Stafford, but he is currently finishing up a two-game suspension for violating the NFL‘s performance-enhancing substance policy.
Garoppolo can return to action in Week 3 and could find it hard to climb the depth chart. Bennett might have done enough to secure the backup spot for the rest of 2024, and that could lead to the Rams having conversations with the Dolphins about Garoppolo.
Carson Wentz, Kansas City Chiefs
Carson Wentz is the backup with the Kansas City Chiefs, but the Dolphins might want to take a flier on calling and asking about Wentz. Wentz was the future for the Philadelphia Eagles before a 15-interception 2020 season led to his being traded to the Colts.
Wentz may have regressed in recent years, but he is still a strong quarterback who could help elevate the Dolphins offense. Wentz still has a solid arm and has proven that he can still rifle off some runs if receivers are not open. He also has playoff experience should the Dolphins find a way to make it to the postseason.
