Zach Wilson ‘frustrated’ after Dolphins pick Quinn Ewers as starter over him after Tua Tagovailoa benching
It wasn’t exactly a surprise when the Miami Dolphins announced Wednesday they were benching starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. That had been a long time coming.
It was, however, somewhat unexpected when the team tapped seventh-round rookie Quinn Ewers as the new starter and not the more experienced Zach Wilson. Especially for Wilson, apparently.
Speaking with the Miami Herald after Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced the change under center, Wilson reportedly said he was “frustrated” and maybe a little confused as well” about being passed over for starting duties this coming Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.
He did wish Ewers well, though, via the Herald:
“Of course I would love to play,” Wilson said. “…I can’t control that. My job is to go out and do the best I can. Keep preparing, …. getting better, supporting Quinn. Excited for him to get his first start.”
Asked if McDaniel explained why he didn’t get the starting job, Wilson said: “A little bit. There’s still confusion there. But you know what? That’s how it goes sometimes.”
Wilson will serve as Ewers’ backup on Sunday, much like he has for Tagovailoa this season.
The former second overall pick signed with the Dolphins last offseason on a one-year, $6 million contract, after an unsuccessful run as the New York Jets’ starting quarterback and a 2024 season with the Denver Broncos in which he didn’t appear in a game. Ewers was drafted in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
For much of the year, the Dolphins’ QB depth chart has been Tagovailoa, Wilson and Ewers. Wilson has appeared in three games as the backup, while Ewers made his NFL debut in October with his first and only appearance. Neither profile as a long-term solution for the Dolphins, but Ewers reportedly impressed enough in preseason and practice that Miami opted to give him a whirl against the 4-10 Bengals.
At the very least, a successful start could set up Ewers for a more long-term back-up role for the Dolphins going forward, while Wilson is a free agent after this season.
McDaniel reportedly told Wilson he still has a chance to play this season, though. Wilson also reflected on his time with the team in some diplomatic terms, via the Herald:
Asked to describe his one season as a Dolphin, Wilson said: “It’s definitely been eventful, right?… Guys have been great and I appreciate the organization bringing me here.
“It’s definitely been tough. I don’t think the season has gone as we all had hoped.
Wish we could have pulled out some more wins and things had gone a little smoother. And of course, I would like to be playing, but it happens. So we’ll go from there.”
As politely as Wilson puts it, it’s been a miserable season for the Dolphins, who are 6-8, out of the playoffs and just publicly ceded defeat on their franchise quarterback. They have three games left before they enter an offseason with some uncomfortable questions, with the Bengals game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on Sunday in Miami.
