The Miami Dolphins are looking for a new quarterback after starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered a concussion, coach Mike McDaniel said.
Skylar Thompson will be considered the Dolphins’ starter while Tagovailoa is out for now.
Tagovailoa left the game during Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the third quarter with the third known concussion of his NFL career, all of them coming in the past 24 months.
“The team and the organization have a lot of confidence in Skylar,” said coach McDaniel, who said the team has not made a decision on whether to place Tagovailoa on injured reserve.
Tagovailoa was expected to be at the team facility Friday to begin the evaluation process in earnest.
“We just have to operate in the unknown and be prepared for every situation,” McDaniel said, noting that the only opinions that will matter to the team will be those of Tagovailoa and the medical staff.
McDaniel added that he doesn’t see Tagovailoa playing in Miami’s next game at Seattle on Sept. 22.
“I have no idea and I’m not going to suddenly start making decisions that I don’t even see myself involved in the most important parts of,” McDaniel added. “All I tell Tua is that everyone is counting on you to be a dad and be a dad this weekend. And then we’ll go from there. There’s no talk of where we’re going in that regard … none of that will happen without the expertise of the doctors and the actual player.”
Tagovailoa completed 17 of 25 passes for 145 yards, with one touchdown and three interceptions (one of which was returned for a score by the Bills) before the injury. Thompson completed eight of 14 passes for 80 yards.
Skylar Thompson ready to take over Dolphins’ offense
Thompson said he feels “fully equipped” to lead the Dolphins’ offense.
“What the future holds, nobody knows, but I’m confident,” Thompson said after Thursday’s game. “I feel like I’m ready for whatever comes next. I’m going to prepare, work hard and do everything I can to lead this team and do my job.”
