With Malik Willis as the solidified starter, the Miami Dolphins are looking for reliable production at backup quarterback in case of an emergency. With injuries increasingly a major part of the NFL season, having a capable backup has become critical to building a roster.
A strong backup can keep a season alive, while poor quarterback play can quickly derail a team if the starter goes down. With the Dolphins’ preseason now wrapped up, it’s time to assess the play of their backups.
The Dolphins’ main backup was Quinn Ewers, who was just traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Now, Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski are up for the second-string spot. However, their combined performances throughout the three preseason games were concerning for Dolphins fans,
creating a lack of confidence in the quarterback room should Willis suffer an injury.
Across the three games, Dolphins backups combined for just 23 completions on 60 attempts, a 38% completion rate. This is especially concerning, given that much of their playing time came against opposing teams’ backup defenses. Of those 60 attempts, the Dolphins’ backups threw three interceptions and zero touchdowns.
Ewers was responsible for one interception, while Miller threw the other two, with all three interceptions coming in the same game against the Washington Commanders.
Having a mobile quarterback like Malik Willis comes with plenty of upside, but it also comes with an increased injury risk because of his ability and willingness to make plays with his legs. The Dolphins need more consistent quarterback play behind him to feel comfortable heading into the regular season.
Neither Miller nor Gronowski performed well, so with Ewers gone, it's unclear who the backup in Miami is currently, but it might not be anyone on the roster. The Dolphins could turn to waivers or look for a trade.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins have difficult decision to make after trading 1 of their QBs
