When Skylar Thompson takes the reins for the Miami Dolphins, beginning this week with a road game against the Seattle Seahawks, it won’t be the first time the team turned to the former seventh-round pick to lead the way.
During his rookie season in 2022, it was Thompson who was tasked with saving the Dolphins’ season after Tua Tagovailoa suffered multiple concussions that eventually ruled him out of the team’s regular season finale and postseason run.
While Thompson did enough to win a field-goal-fest against the New York Jets in Week 18, he couldn’t do enough to beat the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. Thompson finished the 34-31 loss with only 18 completions on 45 attempts with one touchdown and two interceptions.
On Wednesday, Mike McDaniel said Dolphins don’t expect to see the same quarterback this time around.
“The confidence that the team has towards Skylar is real and it’s earned and it’s based upon thousands of hours that, as a backup quarterback, most people don’t see,” McDaniel said. “He has ran our plays in a walkthrough setting probably more than anybody on our team.
“I mean, he’s done that for a calendar year, incessantly. And the results are: there’s a broader chest in the huddle. There’s more conviction. … When you’re watching in 2024, it might be the same name on the jersey, but you’re seeing a different man.”
Miami players have similar expressed confidence in Thompson.
“We’re confident in his ability,” Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle said Monday. “He plays with a lot of swag out there, so it’s going to be fun. I’m excited. … I think he’s prepared for the moment.”
In relief of Tagovailoa against the Bills in Week 2, Thompson completed eight of 14 passes for 80 yards.
The Dolphins also signed Tyler Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens’ practice squad and placed Tagovailoa on the injured reserve.
