Dolphins Trade Pitch Lands AFC East Rival QB as Tua Tagovailoa Placeholder

The heinous Miami Dolphins offense got a much-needed, though not well-earned, reprieve from the media spotlight with a fortuitously timed bye in Week 6.

But the team is back in action this coming Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts and the same problems/concerns that beset Miami over its past three games remain firmly embedded as its next road trip approaches.

Tyler Huntley has stepped in and arguably been a step down from backup QB Skylar Thompson , who played several steps below the standard that the injured Tua Tagovailoa set across 17 games last season in his sole 2024 appearance against the Seattle Seahawks .

Huntley appears to be the guy again this week, which represents the fourth and final game for Tagovailoa on the injured reserve list based on the timing of his initial designation to IR. That doesn't mean Tagovailoa will be back against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8, however.

While head coach Mike McDaniel did say on Monday, October 14, that he expects his starting quarterback to play again this season, he declined to put a timeline on Tagovailoa's return.

The Dolphins can open the QB's 21-day practice window, which would mean a return to the roster -- if not the starting lineup -- by Week 10 against the Los Angeles Rams . Or Miami could send Tagovailoa back to IR for another stint if the healing process through his third confirmed concussion isn't on track.

All of this is to say that the Dolphins should consider what type of improvements they can make under center between now and the November 5 trade deadline -- and one new opportunity opened up just last week.

The New England Patriots -- who Miami squeaked by in Week 5 to get to 2-3 on the year and probably save its season, at least for the time being -- decided to run out rookie QB Drake Maye against the Houston Texans on Sunday. The Pats lost by 20 points, but Maye put up 3 passing TDs and led his team in rushing along the way.

Maye's elevation meant the benching of Jacoby Brissett , who started the first five games of the year in New England and has 53 career starts in 84 regular-season games played at the NFL level.

Brissett is no hero with a record of 19-34 , but he is a viable professional quarterback from today until whenever Tagovailoa returns. And the 32-year-old will remain so into next season and beyond, when Miami's $212.4 million QB could be playing just one big hit away from the end of his career on every single snap.

The Dolphins can't afford to invest in a pricey backup or an alternative starter beyond Tagovailoa long-term, at least not unless he ultimately retires. But, on the other hand, the team has invested far too much in its offense to let it hang by the tenuous thread that will be Tagovailoa's health going forward.

Brissett is a reasonable compromise between the two extremes, as he is currently playing on a one-year deal worth $8 million in New England.

Related: Calls Mount for Tua Tagovailoa to Retire After Scary Head Injury