Tyler Huntley could become starter in Dolphins QB carousel

Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday he is not ready to name a starting quarterback for Monday night’s home game against the Tennessee Titans.

Skylar Thompson is dealing with a rib injury that McDaniel called “pretty painful,” leaving Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle as the leading candidates to be Miami’s QB1 this week.

Huntley recently joined the Dolphins while Boyle is on the practice squad. Boyle slotted in against the Seattle Seahawks last weekend after Thompson was injured, but Huntley has more starting experience.

Huntley has made 10 NFL starts, including one in the playoffs, which could lead McDaniel to turn to Huntley.

“I have in my mind what I think, how this could play out,” McDaniel said Thursday. “However, this is a bit premature for a multitude of reasons. And the very last one being competitive advantage.

The Dolphins just signed Huntley 10 days ago, shortly after starter Tua Tagovailoa was sidelined with his latest concussion. But McDaniel said he could already sense the opportunity wouldn’t overwhelm Huntley.

“The game is not too big for him. Very encouraged by his progress,” he said. “We targeted him for a reason.”

Despite this, Huntley isn’t entirely aware of McDaniel’s offense. McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will closely monitor performance in practice.

“I feel a lot better informed about his exact situation over the last half week and I’m very, very encouraged,” McDaniel said of Huntley. “Chris and his staff, along with the coaching staff, we targeted him for a reason. And he’s a player we know very well from an opponent’s point of view.

Huntley spent four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and made all of his NFL starts while Lamar Jackson was sidelined due to injuries. He went to training camp with the Cleveland Browns this year and was later released.

Dolphins defensive end Calais Campbell played with Huntley in Baltimore and is confident the 26-year-old can get the job done.

“(Huntley) is a guy that’s going to be very prepared,” Campbell said. “He can make every throw. I think he has good balance in the pocket and then he can create with his legs, which I think is something with the weapons we have at the receiver position and the way people have to us keep, when you can really make people pay with your legs. there are going to be opportunities there.

Since a furious fourth-quarter rally to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, the Dolphins have been outscored 55-13 in back-to-back losses to the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks.

Miami hasn’t scored a touchdown in the last seven quarters and has converted 1 of Seattle’s 12 third downs. The Dolphins’ 205 yards of total offense against the Seahawks is their lowest output since a 27-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on October 3, 2021. Miami had 203 total yards and 35 rushing yards in that game.

Thompson completed 13 of 19 passes for 107 yards and was sacked five times against Seattle before exiting. Boyle was 7 of 13 for 79 yards and was sacked once.

McDaniel also said left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller remain in concussion protocol.