Dolphins Face Quarterback Woes in Loss to Seahawks
The Miami Dolphins suffered a significant setback during their 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday when quarterback Skylar Thompson exited the game in the third quarter due to a rib injury. Thompson, making his first start of the season in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa, sustained the injury after taking a hard hit early in the second half. Head coach Mike McDaniel described the injury as "pretty painful," noting Thompson’s determination to stay in the game despite the discomfort. "Half the pain or half of the frustration for him was trying to find a way to not come out of the game," McDaniel explained. "Ultimately, it was pretty painful."
Thompson, who completed 13 of 19 passes for 107 yards, was sacked five times before leaving the game. While the full extent of his rib injury remains unknown, McDaniel mentioned that further evaluations would take place on Monday to determine the next steps for the quarterback. Thompson's injury adds to Miami's ongoing quarterback dilemma, with starter Tua Tagovailoa already sidelined due to a concussion suffered in Week Two. Under NFL rules, Tagovailoa, who remains in concussion protocol, must miss at least four games, and his return timeline remains uncertain.
With Tagovailoa still out, and now Thompson’s status in question, the Dolphins will need to find a solution quickly ahead of their Monday night matchup against the Tennessee Titans. After Thompson’s exit, third-string quarterback Tim Boyle stepped in, having recently been promoted from the practice squad. Boyle completed seven of nine passes for 79 yards and added a six-yard scramble, but Miami’s offense continued to struggle, producing just nine first downs throughout the game. Boyle came close to leading the Dolphins to a touchdown, but his fourth-down pass at Seattle’s two-yard line fell incomplete.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Boyle remained upbeat. "It builds a lot of character as a person, as a competitor," Boyle said after the game. "I'm glad we put a couple of drives together. Obviously, we got stopped there on fourth down at the goal line." With uncertainty surrounding Thompson’s availability for next week’s game, the Dolphins may have to turn to Boyle or recent signing Tyler Huntley, who was inactive for Sunday’s contest. Huntley, who joined Miami from the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad, could be an option if Thompson is not cleared to play. Boyle indicated that his preparation would remain consistent regardless of whether he starts next week. "You always prepare like you’re going to play," Boyle stated. "Nothing changes."
In addition to Thompson’s exit, the Dolphins saw other key players leave the game due to injuries. Cornerback Kendall Fuller was ruled out with a concussion, while left tackle Terron Armstead suffered an eye injury. These injuries, combined with Miami’s offensive struggles, compounded the difficulties for the Dolphins, who now stand at a crucial juncture in their season. With the Dolphins needing to regroup and assess their injury situation, next week’s revenge matchup against the Titans will be critical as they seek to stabilize their quarterback position and turn their season around.
