Dolphins snag former Pro Bowl QB from AFC rival to compete for the starting job while Tua Tagovailoa is out

While the Miami Dolphins don't know exactly when Tua Tagovailoa will be available after suffering a concussion on Thursday night , the team is getting ready to operate without its starter. On Monday, the Dolphins signed quarterback Tyler Huntley off the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad to their 53-man roster.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said the coaching staff is comfortable playing Skylar Thompson while Tua can't go, but the addition of Huntley gives them more roster flexibility.

Now, the Dolphins have Thompson and Huntley on the active roster alongside Tua Tagovailoa, who hasn't been placed on the injured reserve to this point, plus Tim Boyle on the practice squad.

Background

Undrafted in 2020, Tyler Huntley spent his first four NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He was a surprise Pro Bowler in 2022, when Lamar Jackson got hurt and he ended up starting four games.

Huntley has had 1,957 career passing yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions, with a 79.0 passer rating. He also brings a rushing element to the offense, having 509 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns throughout his career in the league.

Earlier this season, the Ravens allowed Huntley to reach free agency and the quarterback signed with the Cleveland Browns. He made the initial 53-man roster on the Browns, but was released quickly thereafter since Cleveland's idea was to trade him.

The Ravens signed him back to the practice squad, but NFL rules allow other teams to treat him as a free agent. The only difference between a player signed off a practice squad and a normal free agent is that the Dolphins have to keep him on the 53-man roster and pay him for at least three weeks.

That doesn't seem to be a problem for the Dolphins, since Tua Tagovailoa is expected to miss a few weeks.

Related: Tua Tagovailoa makes a decision about his future with the Miami Dolphins