Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed reports Wednesday afternoon and told reporters that Quinn Ewers will be his quarterback in Week 16. Not only is Tua Tagovailoa out of the starting lineup, McDaniel said the sixth-year quarterback will be the emergency third quarterback against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“The team needs and I’m looking for conviction in quarterback play,” McDaniel said. “I felt that he would play the position the most convicted, which impacts every player on the field.”
On Wednesday, Tagovailoa shared his reaction to the decision when he met with reporters in the Dolphins locker room.
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa reacts to benching. Said he was disappointed, not happy about it. pic.twitter.com/kopO64dDVK
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) December 17, 2025
“Naturally, I’d say I’m disappointed,” Tagovailoa said, via David Furones of the Sun Sentinel. “That’s a normal human emotion, but outside of that, I got to do my part. My role here right now is to help whoever the quarterback is going to be for this team. … I’m not happy about it, but it’s something out of my control.”
Tagovailoa, who was the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, has started 76 career games with the Dolphins and has a 44-32 record with the team. But his Monday night start against the Pittsburgh Steelers may have been his last with Miami.
In that 28-15 loss, Tagovailoa had just 65 passing yards, no touchdowns, and one interception through the first three quarters. That allowed the Steelers to build a 28-3 lead that was too much for the Dolphins to overcome, despite two late touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa reacts to benching: ‘I’m not happy about it’
