The Miami Dolphins’ quarterback situation remains questionable. One week after starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion, backup Skylar Thompson departed the game midway through the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-3 loss to Seattle. Thompson suffered a nasty rib injury, leaving the Dolphins with further worries about their most vital position after only three weeks of the season.
Thompson’s final play was a 5-yard pass to De’Von Achane with 9:46 remaining in the third quarter, but he took a heavy shot on the previous possession when Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson struck him for a sack, one of five on the day.
Thompson went 13 of 19 for 107 yards and was replaced by Tim Boyle at quarterback. “Half the pain or half of the frustration for him, I think, was he was trying to find a way to not come out of the game,” McDaniel said. “Ultimately, it was pretty unpleasant. He struggled through it, but we’ll have an opportunity to see him tomorrow.”
Thompson got up after Dodson’s hit and ran off the field with a little hunch in his torso. He returned during the following series but remained down for several minutes after passing to Achane. Thompson lay on his back briefly before sitting up and went to the locker room.
Thompson’s injury occurred just over a week after Tagovailoa sustained his third concussion in two years in a loss to Buffalo. Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve earlier this week so the Dolphins will be without him for at least four games.
McDaniel did not reveal the Dolphins’ plans for the coming week if Thompson cannot play in Miami’s home game against Tennessee next Monday night. Tyler Huntley was signed from the Ravens’ practice squad earlier this week and served as Miami’s third quarterback on Sunday.
McDaniel sounded optimistic that the rest of the highly acclaimed offense would recover despite the team’s roller-coaster in the first few weeks under center. “I think consistency has to be found from the nucleus in the group,” according to McDaniel. “The individuals that understand the offense must be on top of their game, and we must simply keep chopping wood and improving quickly. Those things happen, and every single season, some teams find a way to win football games when their starter, or even their backup, is injured.”
It was the Dolphins’ third severe injury of the game, following the first-half injuries to left tackle Terron Armstead (eye) and cornerback Kendall Fuller (concussion). Fuller was injured during the first quarter, assessed, and declared out early in the second half. Armstead’s injury was reported late in the second quarter, and Kendall Lamm took over as his substitute.
Byron Murphy II and Leonard Williams were injured in the first half, significantly reducing Seattle’s defensive line depth. Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks’ coach, did not offer an update on either injury.
