Dolphins still not naming starting QB for Monday night’s game vs. Titans

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is still not naming a starting quarterback for Monday night’s game against the Tennessee Titans .

The Dolphins have a dilemma between Skylar Thompson, Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle as Tua Tagovailoa goes into the second of at least four games he’ll miss while on injured reserve recovering from a concussion.

While McDaniel appears to be leaning a certain way, he was not willing to reveal it Thursday.

“I have in my mind what I think, how it could play out,” McDaniel said. “However, it’s a little premature for a multitude of reasons and the very last being the competitive advantage piece.

“There is a lot going on (Thursday), a lot that’s gone on the last 48 hours. Instead of wishing something into existence, I’ll let it play out while the quarterbacks that will be participating (Thursday) will get action and great opportunity. As the week progresses, I’ll be sure to shout it from the top of a building when we know that, but still a lot of information to gather.”

Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill said he took passes from Boyle in practice Thursday, although he’s often known to throw reporters and the public for a loop. In the same breath, he also said that fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle threw to him.

“We’re in the process of looking for anybody who can throw. Open applications,” Hill quipped about the quarterback situation.

Thompson is still recovering from his rib injury that caused him to exit Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks early.

“Pretty painful,” McDaniel said of what Thompson is experiencing. “It’s not just a pain tolerance thing, because Skylar is a very tough individual, but it’s how you’re able to do your job and with what effectiveness, and every day from the injury, you get kind of a scope into what it could look like and how that can affect him.”

Thompson participated on a limited basis at Thursday drills, the first official practice of the week with other sessions to come Friday and Saturday ahead of Monday night at Hard Rock Stadium.

He appeared to labor just jogging from one station to another during practice.

“He won’t put the team in harm’s way if he’s unable to execute some of the job,” McDaniel said.

Thompson declined to talk to reporters at his locker room at the team facility following Thursday drills.

Huntley enters his second week with the Dolphins after he signed Sept. 17 and was kept inactive but available as an emergency third quarterback in the loss to the Seahawks.

“I’m feeling much more knowledgeable about exactly where he’s at over the last week and very, very encouraged,” McDaniel said.

Huntley, a former Sun Sentinel small-schools player of the year in Broward County out of Hallandale High, could be in line to start for his hometown team at Hard Rock Stadium.

“That’ll be amazing,” said Huntley on the possibility. “That’s just a child’s dream, being able to play for your home team. That’s just something that everybody doesn’t get to come across. It’ll mean everything in the world, but I’m just here to help the team win.”

Would he get a bunch of tickets for local friends and family?

“I ain’t taking that many tickets,” he said, laughing. “They got to go buy their own. … That’s on them if they want to come to the game.”

Hill has seen Huntley work in his two weeks with the team and has found it admirable. The star wide receiver also got to know him at the 2022 Pro Bowl.

“Tremendous guy. Tremendous work ethic,” Hill said. “Since he got here, I’m like, this dude can make every throw. This dude is special with his legs. He’s a special talent, man.

“Excited to see if him or Boyle goes,” Hill continued.

Boyle, ahead of Huntley as the backup last week, seemed to move the offense a bit better than Thompson when he entered in the second half. He was 7 of 13 for 79 yards. Thompson went 13 of 19 for 107 yards, but he was sacked five times to Boyle’s one.

“Not great for my standards or the team’s standards,” Boyle assessed of the performance. “But for the circumstances, being three weeks in in a difficult offense — those were my first reps getting into a game — I’m happy with how I handled it from a poise standpoint, a command standpoint. But definitely can clean some stuff up in the pocket.”

Boyle added “every day has been more comfortable” in his three weeks with the Dolphins.