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2023 NFL quarterback analysis: Miami Dolphins
Current starter: Tua Tagovailoa | Current backups: Teddy Bridgewater, Skylar Thompson
State of the position: Two or three meaty graphs on where the position stands. Supplement with media — a tweet or analysis from a trusted media source.
The Miami Dolphins just finished a 9-8 season with a 34-31 playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills with backup quarterback Skylar Thompson.
Starter Tua Tagovailoa had the right changes around him, and his play improved dramatically in 2022. Tagovailoa had moments reminiscent of his college days at Alabama, throwing 25 touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Tua going through the full progression, extending the play, and finding Smythe for a TD pic.twitter.com/yZFJi46mFp
— Shawn (@syedschemes) November 30, 2022
He had games where could have thrown more interceptions - like against Pittsburgh in Week Seven. But Tagovailoa's touchdown output on only 400 pass attempts is impressive and bodes well for the future.
Tagovailoa went 8-5 as the starter, meaning four losses (including the playoffs) came when backup quarterbacks had to start games.
Veteran Teddy Bridgewater went 0-2 as a starter, throwing for four touchdowns and four interceptions. Bridgewater also had the highest sack rate at 8.1% of the Dolphins' quarterbacks, due in part to lower mobility on some plays compared to Tagovailoa and Thompson.
Rookie Skylar Thompson got valuable experience many late-round backups never get so early in their careers. Thompson showcased some promise in his development, even though he didn't light up the stat sheet. He averaged 5.1 yards per attempt in the regular season.
Key stat: Tua Tagovailoa leads the league in yards per attempt (8.9) and passer rating (105.5).
2023 QB forecast: The Dolphins have spent big on Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead and Bradley Chubb over the past year. Quarterback is a position they could cut costs on, with Thompson on a cheap deal and Tagovailoa accounting for $9.6 million against the cap in 2023, per OvertheCap.
The Dolphins could afford to keep two quarterbacks on their roster. Some concerns about this idea may be Tagovailoa's recent concussion and injury history, and Thompson's injury history in college. Thompson missed games in college at Kansas State, only playing in three games in 2020. Miami may look to free agency if they feel they need more insurance.
Tagovailoa returns to an offense he played well in last season. Skylar Thompson moves up the depth chart to second string in his second season while 30-year-old Teddy Bridgewater leaves in free agency.
More must-reads:
- Dolphins fire DC Josh Boyer after 3 seasons
- Jets targeting coach from division rival as potential offensive coordinator
- The 'QBs drafted in the first round' quiz
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Green Bay Packers: Jordan Love’s ‘Fiery’ Response to Wife’s Take on Franchise’s Timeless Tradition
Green Bay Packers star quarterback Jordan Love and his wife, Ronika Stone Love, are truly in, well, love. The couple just got married in June, and with the Packers deep into their preparation for the upcoming 2025 NFL season, Ronika shows full support for her husband. In a social media post on Instagram, Ronika shared a series of photos from last Saturday’s Packers Family Night at Lambeau Field. The first photo on the post shows a happy Ronika in the arms of the former Utah State Aggies star signal-caller. “My version of a Lambeau Leap,” Ronika wrote as a caption. Last season, Love played in 15 games, throwing for a total of 3,389 passing yards to go along with 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That year was considered a down one for Love, but many expect him to come up with a bigger performance in 2025, as Green Bay looks to surpass its 11-win total in 2024. Fans react to Jordan Love’s wife’s Green Bay Packers Lambeau Leap Apart from Love, many others reacted to Ronika’s heartwarming post. Here are some of them: “Two Green Bay 10’s right there,” said a fan. Another one said: “Hair looks amazing” From a commenter: “Awhhhh y’all are so cute!! And I’m obsessed with the hair it’s giving SZA!! ” “Love the Loves!,” a social media user posted. Via a different commenter: “your outfit is adorable” Said another: “I love the fit! Both of yall ”
Rams share worrisome Matthew Stafford update ahead of preseason opener
Los Angeles Rams veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has had a "week-to-week" designation throughout training camp as he deals with lingering back soreness. According to ESPN's Sarah Barshop and Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk, Rams head coach Sean McVay confirmed on Sunday that Stafford won't participate in Monday's jog-through practice. "He’ll be doing a workout on his own during that time period," McVay said. "He is able to do a little bit more, which is good, and things are progressing well, but he won’t take part in the jog-through because he’ll be doing some other stuff." Stafford also won't take part in Los Angeles' joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday. Barshop noted that 2023 fourth-round pick Stetson Bennett IV, who has never taken a meaningful snap as a pro, "is expected to start for the Rams" in the team's preseason opener against Dallas this coming Saturday. It's unclear if Stafford will be available for the Rams' joint practice with the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 13. The Rams play the Chargers on Aug. 16 and then end the preseason with a matchup against the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 23. "It’s static throwing," McVay said about what Stafford will do on Monday. "It’s some of the unloaded running on the treadmill. Sometimes it might even be walking. He’s able to do a little lighter cardio and able to do some good core work. It’s more just functional strength surrounding the area, making sure you don’t do anything to set yourself back based on the trajectory he’s doing. We are looking forward to getting him and easing him back into football, hopefully in the near future." It's no secret that the Rams at least considered trading Stafford to either the New York Giants or Las Vegas Raiders after he turned 37 years old this past February. While the Rams worked out an agreement to keep Stafford as their QB1, the club could part ways with him next offseason if his body betrays him or he looks like a player past his physical prime during the upcoming campaign. As of Monday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Rams sixth among the betting favorites at +1000 odds to represent the NFC in Super Bowl LX. Such information suggests Los Angeles may want to consider looking for an upgrade over current backup signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo, who hasn't shown he can be a winning QB1 with any regularity since the 2022 season.
Report: Giannis Antetokounmpo still mulling exit from Bucks
Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors have died down in recent weeks, but the two-time MVP hasn’t reached a decision on whether he wants to continue playing for the Bucks, ESPN’s Shams Charania said Monday morning during an appearance on “Get Up.” “Sources tell me there’s still nothing set in stone about whether Giannis Antetokounmpo will stay in Milwaukee or whether he will be leaving,” Charania said. There have been past reports that Antetokounmpo might consider leaving Milwaukee to improve his chances of winning another NBA title. Speculation began to grow after the Bucks were eliminated in this first round of this year’s playoffs and star guard Damian Lillard suffered an Achilles tear that’s expected to sideline him for all of next season. Bucks general manager Jon Horst responded by retooling the team’s roster this summer. He waived and stretched the $112.6M that Lillard had left on his contract for the next two years and used the new-found cap space to sign center Myles Turner away from the Pacers. Horst also added Gary Harris, Jericho Sims and Cole Anthony in free agency and re-signed several of the team’s own free agents, such as Bobby Portis, Gary Trent Jr., Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins and Taurean Prince. The aggressive move with Turner was viewed as an important step toward convincing Antetokounmpo that the Bucks could remain competitive in the Eastern Conference. Although there hasn’t been much trade talk over the last month, Charania insists that Antetokounmpo’s situation hasn’t been resolved. “There’s been some very real conversations over the last week or so,” Charania said. “The constant question that Giannis has, though, is can I win a championship with this roster? …He wants to win a second championship, so he’s asking that question over and over.” He added that there are “multiple teams waiting in the wings” to make offers if Antetokounmpo decides he wants out.
Raiders change around depth options ahead of preseason
The Las Vegas Raiders are giving their offensive weapons a minor makeover before their first preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday. On Sunday, the team announced that they had signed wide receiver Kawaan Baker and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam. In corresponding roster moves, the Raiders have waived tight end Pat Conroy and wide receiver Kyle Philips. Baker was a seventh-round selection of the New Orleans Saints in the 2021 NFL Draft, appearing in two games for the team. Prior to that, he shined at the University of South Alabama, recording 126 catches for 1,829 yards and 16 touchdowns in his four years there. Okwuegbunam was a fourth-round pick of the Denver Broncos in the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons in Denver, followed by stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts. With 30 NFL games under his belt, the Missouri product has recorded 54 receptions for 546 yards and four touchdowns. The two add depth to the offense, but both are going to face uphill battles to make the 53-man roster. Baker is likely competing for the last receiver spot on the roster with fellow veterans Collin Johnson and Alex Bachman. Meanwhile, Okwuegbunam has a loaded tight end room in front of him, with Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer locked in and veteran Ian Thomas providing a unique skillet to the room. Both could impress the Raiders coaching staff enough, however, to warrant practice squad spots. Both moves are little more than a restructuring of depth, but the injury to safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. on Sunday could mean bigger moves are on the horizon.
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