The Miami Dolphins are benching quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and turning to rookie Quinn Ewers as their new starter, coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday.
Ewers' first start will come Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ewers served as the team's backup quarterback for its Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and briefly entered the game but has otherwise been the Dolphins' emergency quarterback.
"Quinn gives us the best chance to win," McDaniel said.
Quarterback Zach Wilson, the former No. 2 overall pick by the New York Jets in the 2021 draft, will be the backup Sunday while Tagovailoa will be the emergency third quarterback.
Ewers was only promised the start for the Bengals game, sources told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, although the expectation is that he'll start more than one game.
The Dolphins also released veteran pass rusher Matthew Judon on Wednesday. After signing with Miami in August, Judon played primarily on special teams and as a rotational pass rusher in 13 games (three starts). After the Dolphins traded linebacker Jaelan Phillips at the deadline, Judon saw increased snaps, but he didn't record a sack this season. The four-time Pro Bowler will have the chance to sign with a playoff contender if he goes unclaimed on waivers.
Tagovailoa threw his NFL-worst 15th interception in the 28-15 loss to the Steelers, which eliminated the Dolphins (6-8) from playoff contention.
Tagovailoa threw two touchdown passes Monday night, but both scores came with the game already in hand for Pittsburgh. He also took four sacks in the loss.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday he was contemplating making the change at quarterback.
"I think the quarterback play last night was not good enough, and so for me, everything's on the table," he said.
Tagovailoa signed a four-year, $212.1 million extension in 2024 after he led the NFL in passing yards in 2023. However, he missed a career-high six games last season, and while he has been durable in 2025, his 15 interceptions in 14 games are a career high.
Tagovailoa already is guaranteed $54 million in 2026, and on March 15 next year, $3 million of his 2027 salary will become guaranteed. If the Dolphins were to release him next year, the move would result in a $99 million dead cap charge. Designating the move as a post-June 1 release would lower that charge to $67.4 million in 2026 and $31.8 million in 2027.
ESPN's Marcel Louis-Jacques contributed to this report.
