“Putting a timetable on Tua Tagovailoa is not appropriate.” That’s Coach Mike McDaniel’s way of saying things are about to get problematic in Miami. With Tua Tagovailoa’s future in the clouds, the Phins are rolling with Skylar Thompson as the starter and hunting for some veteran QBs to have his back.

Senior NFL reporter Albert Breer dropped the bombshell news on X that McDaniel confirmed the team will move forward with Thompson as the starter. Miami’s HC noted that setting a timetable for QB Tagovailoa’s return ain’t practical, and he will be evaluated daily. “Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel tells reporters that the team will go forward with Skylar Thompson as starter, and will likely add a QB. McDaniel says he doesn’t think putting a timetable of Tua Tagovailoa is appropriate, and that Tua will be assessed daily,” Breer tweeted. 

Tagovailoa took a nasty hit on Thursday night’s 31-10 loss to the Bills, resulting in his third concussion in two years. He went down in a worrying fencing response—arms all stiff and weird. Even though he walked off-field, this injury has the Phins on high alert. 

With a 10-day break before their next game against Seattle, Miami might put Tagovailoa on injured reserve, depending on his recovery. For now, McDaniel’s all about caution. “Right now, it’s more about getting a proper procedural evaluation and taking it one day at a time,” he asserted. “The furthest thing from my mind is what is the timeline. We just need to evaluate and just worry about my teammate. … We’ll get more information [Friday] and then take it day by day from there.” The coach’s priority? Tagovailoa’s health, not rushing him back too soon.

Who can replace Tua Tagovailoa?

So, as the Dolphins prep for their next showdown, the big question is: who will they snag to shore up their QB gap? Miami’s eyeing some big names. 

Ryan Tannehill

The Texas A&M Aggies standout could be just the nostalgia fix the Phins need this moment. He’s got the Miami mojo and a wealth of experience that’s hard to beat.

Remember Tannehill’s standout postseason run with Tennessee in 2019 and 2020? That was the stuff of legends. Fast forward to 2023, and his season was a helluva ride. He battled a gnarly high ankle sprain; watched rookie Will Levis grab the spotlight, and ended up as the backup. Tannehill came up big in Week 18, booting the Jags from the playoffs. Picture him back in Miami, ready to nail McDaniel’s play-action game plan. It’s like reuniting with an old friend who still knows how to bring the heat.

Carson Wentz

The Chiefs snagged Carson Wentz as Patrick Mahomes’ backup on April 2. At the time, it seemed like just another offseason footnote. But with two high-profile QBs going down in less than a week, that move’s suddenly looking pretty clever.

Analyst Dan Orlovsky threw his two cents in, suggesting the Phins might want to dial up KC about Wentz if Tagovailoa ends up at the sidelines. “I think they’re [Miami] a good football team, and if I were the Dolphins, I think the two places I would try and call first would be Kansas City for Carson Wentz,” Orlovsky asserted. “I don’t think that they would let him go, and Jacksonville for Mac Jones. I think the Dolphins have to try and figure out, or plan to figure out, who can they have or go get to win football games with, in case Tua can’t or decides not to go again.”

Last year, Wentz signed with the Rams to back up Matthew Stafford. He didn’t just ride the bench; Wentz stepped up as the Rams’ starter in the final game, throwing for 176 yards and two TDs to snag a thrilling 21-20 win over the Niners. Now back in Kansas City, a trade to Miami could be a game-changer for the Dolphins. 

Zach Wilson trade

Zach Wilson was snagged by the Jets as the second overall pick. Even though he had a great beginning, his rookie year was marred by a bad game against the Pats. This year, Denver swapped the QB. 

The Broncos weren’t exactly rolling out the red carpet; they decided to keep Zach Wilson on ice as their third-string QB, behind Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham. But now, the plot thickens—what if he’s traded to Miami to replace Tagovailoa? Imagine this: The high-flying BYU star gets a fresh start with the Dolphins. If he can channel his potential and make the most of this opportunity, Miami could have themselves a game-changer. He’s got the arm and the attitude. 

Kenny Pickett trade 

“I would say the majority of those narratives were pushed by people. And they are 100 percent BS,” Pickett’s QB coach, Tony Racioppi, asserted. “I would put his leadership ability against anybody out there.”

The Steelers’ first-round 2022 pick Kenny Pickett made a splash as the highest-drafted QB since Ben Roethlisberger. He started off as Mitchell Trubisky’s backup, but now things are changing. On March 16, he was traded to the Eagles. Now, Pickett’s got a fresh shot with Philly. If he were traded to Miami, he could be a major game-changer for the Phins. 

⁠Joe Flacco

“I don’t think I’d be very successful at my job if I didn’t feel that way,” Joe Flacco once alluded about his bold claim of being the NFL’s best QB. Back in 2012, Flacco was confident enough to put himself above legends like Brady and Manning, even if many folks were rolling their eyes.

Flacco’s road to the NFL was anything but typical. At Delaware, he doubted his pro prospects and even wanted to play baseball. But his coach’s surprise prediction and standout performances at the Senior Bowl and Combine got him drafted in the top five of 2008. He even won the long-distance throw contest at the ESPN College Football All-Star Challenge, out-throwing Matt Ryan and others.

The Phins are on a QB quest with Tua Tagovailoa’s status in limbo. Whether it’s Ryan Tannehill’s Miami magic, Carson Wentz’s clutch heroics, Zach Wilson’s fresh shot, or Joe Flacco’s unshakable swagger, Miami’s search is about to get spicy. Keep an eye out—this next move could flip the script for the Dolphins!