The Miami Dolphins are signing backup quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Ravens’ apply squad as Tua Tagovailoa stays out with the third identified concussion of his professional profession.
Coach Mike McDaniel confirmed the transfer first reported by NFL Community on Monday, saying that Huntley is being added for depth behind present No. 2 quarterback Skylar Thompson.
Tagovailoa stays within the NFL’s concussion protocol after leaving a 31-10 loss to Buffalo final Thursday. McDaniel mentioned there’s nonetheless not sufficient data to know whether or not Tagovailoa will go on injured reserve.
“That’s gonna be pushed by medical consultants,” McDaniel mentioned, “and after we get the suitable data and focus on with Tua, then Chris (normal supervisor Chris Grier) and I can focus on that. Not fairly able to make a distinction on that.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagolvailoa exited Thursday evening’s loss to the Payments after struggling a concussion within the third quarter. This is a short timeline of his concussions over the previous 5 years.
Huntley, who goes by the nickname “Snoop,” signed with the Browns as a free agent in March however was launched in August amid roster cuts. The Ravens then introduced him again for a second stint with the workforce.
Huntley was one in all quite a few veteran quarterbacks who have been out there for the Dolphins to contemplate within the wake of Tagovailoa’s head damage.
Tagovailoa was harm on a play the place he collided with Payments defensive again Damar Hamlin. He ran for a primary down after which initiated the contact by reducing his shoulder into Hamlin as an alternative of sliding.
Gamers from each groups instantly motioned that Tagovailoa was harm, and as he lay on the turf the quarterback exhibited some indicators sometimes related to a traumatic mind damage. He remained down on the sector for a few minutes, bought to his ft and walked to the sideline after the third-quarter play.
Thompson changed Tagovailoa within the recreation, however McDaniel mentioned the following day that Miami deliberate on signing one other quarterback.
The coach didn’t wish to speculate on what the newest head damage means for Tagovailoa’s future — he was identified with two concussions in 2022 and one throughout school at Alabama — and McDaniel has repeatedly mentioned he desires to remain out of any choices Tagovailoa makes about his profession amid studies that he has no plans to retire. Tagovailoa is at the moment consulting neurologists about his well being.
“So far as Tua’s profession is worried, I feel it’s an utmost precedence of mine for Tua to talk on Tua’s profession,” McDaniel mentioned. “Stories are studies. So far as I’m involved, I’m simply anxious concerning the human being and the place that is at everyday. I’ll let Tua be the champion of his personal profession.”
Thompson is the doubtless starter when Miami travels to face Seattle on Sunday, and McDaniel mentioned including Huntley has no bearing on the workforce’s confidence in Thompson. Huntley does give the Dolphins an alternative choice with expertise.
Huntley went undrafted in 2020 earlier than signing with the Ravens. The South Florida native stepped in for an injured Lamar Jackson in 2021 and 2022 and was a Professional Bowl choice in 2022. He went 3-7 in 10 begins with the Ravens, has 1,957 profession passing yards with eight touchdowns and 7 interceptions and a 64.6 completion charge.
“It has been obvious from afar,” McDaniel mentioned, “after which having some coaches which have been round him, shoot, he was changing the league MVP and you possibly can inform from distant that he was a man that the workforce completely believed may cause them to victory. I feel that is a really enormous tangible factor for a non QB1, essentially.”
McDaniel mentioned he stays assured in Thompson’s capacity to win video games regardless of the quarterback struggling Thursday in Tagovailoa’s place. He accomplished 8 of 14 passes for 80 yards.
“I feel his recreation has developed since he is had a beginning alternative within the Nationwide Soccer League,” McDaniel mentioned of Thompson, who began a number of video games as a rookie in 2022 when Tagovailoa was injured. “I feel all of his teammates can really feel his command and his development, and I feel he put collectively some profitable soccer as a rookie.”