As Dolphins’ backup QBs struggle, Tannehill waits for right opportunity. And injury news

The Dolphins showed great conviction in Mike White when they signed him to be their backup quarterback in the first hour of free agency 18 months ago.

It would be helpful if White more consistently justified that faith.

The former Jets backup has been uneven throughout training camp and struggled badly in Friday’s preseason win against Atlanta, going 4 for 14 for 26 yards and a 39.6 passer rating while playing the entire second half.

In his defense, receivers dropped at least two catchable passes and he was playing mostly with third-stringers who won’t be on the team.

“We had a rough, rough set of circumstances,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “In the second half, we’re down to one tight end and one running back, and we had a receiver [Mike Harley Jr.] that we just got on board two days ago. It was a tough situation for [White] to be in. And I thought he maintained his composure. But we still have a ton of work to do.”

White’s take?

“We were limited to what we could run, and I think the other side of the ball knew that too, so it was kind of ‘Ehh.’ But there’s still other things you can work on as a quarterback that I thought I got good reps at.”

As has been the case throughout camp, Skylar Thompson was somewhat better – but hardly great - on Friday, completing 8 of 19 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown (a six-yarder to Jeff Wilson Jr.) and an interception and a poor 53.6 passer rating. Thompson played the entire first half.

McDaniel said Wednesday that the White/Thompson quarterback competition to back up Tua Tagovailoa is “neck and neck.”

The Dolphins are more likely than not to stick with White and/or Thompson because of the lack of appealing outside options and the challenges a new quarterback would face learning this offense quickly.

Ryan Tannehill, who spent his first six seasons with the Dolphins, is the only free agent quarterback who would be considered an upgrade over White or Thompson.

But Tannehill’s play has declined the past two years. After throwing 33 touchdowns and 7 interceptions for Tennessee in 2020, he threw 21 and 14 in 2021, 13 and 6 in 2022 and 4 and 7 in 10 games (and eight starts) last season while dealing with injuries and losing his job to rookie Will Levis.

Tannehill, 36, told the “Scoop City” podcast in late July that he’s being selective but would “jump wholeheartedly” if the right opportunity presents itself.

Waiting for that chance is “a weird feeling, right?” Tannehill said of not having a team during training camp. “Just because I’ve done it for so long. ... I’m staying in shape and staying ready if the right thing pops up. ... [But] right now, it’s gonna depend on the situation. ... I’m not just going to continue to add years to add years. ... I’m not ruling anything out, but it’s going to have to be the right situation for me and my family.

“Nothing really felt right through free agency, and through that, I had a lot of peace with it. If something comes up down the road -- whether that’s training camp, maybe a guy goes down on a team -- you never know what’s going to happen. [But I’m] not waiting on pins and needles for that call.”

The list of other available free agent quarterbacks is unimpressive: Brian Hoyer (who is working Patriots preseason broadcasts but hasn’t retired), Blaine Gabbert, A.J. McCarron, Matt Barkley, Trevor Siemian, Nathan Peterman, Logan Woodside and Ben DiNucci.

None of White’s $3.5 million salary for 2025 is guaranteed, and his $5.2 million cap hit would drop to $1.7 million if he’s cut. That puts him at risk if Thompson beats him out. But both quarterbacks likely would need to be very poor in the weeks ahead for Miami to consider outside options.

There’s less incentive to keep three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster this season because of a new rule. Unlike last year, a third quarterback isn’t required to be on the 53-man roster (or elevated a maximum of three times per season) in order to play.

This season, the emergency quarterback rule allows the third quarterback to play only if the first two quarterbacks are unavailable, due to injury or ejection. Once an injured quarterback is cleared to return, the emergency quarterback must exit the game.

THIS AND THAT

▪ Beyond center Aaron Brewer’s hand injury that could sideline him weeks, the Dolphins sustained several other injuries on Friday.

Kion Smith, who started at left guard, sustained a torn ACL and is out for the season.

On the defensive side, cornerback Siran Neal and inside linebacker Zeke Vanbenburgh left with injuries after playing just 18 and 16 snaps. Neal should be fine, while Vandenburgh is undergoing an MRI on his leg.

Outside linebacker Grayson Murphy, who has been among the Dolphins’ most impressive undrafted free agents, left with an injury and had an immobilized brace on his right knee after the game.

Offensively, tight end Jody Fortson - who left for the locker room during the game - received good news: His injury was a stinger– nothing more serious.

The Dolphins now await word on the severity of tight end Tanner Conner’s injury, which made him grimace angrily as he walked to the locker room after catching three passes for 70 yards.

▪ Ethan Bonner allowed a 41-yard completion to Chris Blair, who might have committed a penalty on the play, but was otherwise very good in his bid to be the Dolphins’ No. 3 boundary cornerback.

▪ Linebacker Channing Tindall had the Dolphins’ only sack, late in the first half on a blitz.

Rookie safety Patrick McMorris was the only Dolphins player with more than one tackle for loss; he had two TFLs among his team-high eight tackles. That’s exceptional production in 38 defensive snaps.

▪ Defensively, linebacker Curtis Bolton played the most snaps – 55, or 77 percent.

Rookie cornerback Storm Duck (who made two impressive plays in coverage) and Tindall each played 53.

Aside from players who were injured during the game, the fewest defensive snaps were logged by players projected for the 53-man roster: linebacker Duke Riley (18), edge player Quinton Bell (15) and safety Elijah Campbell (12).

▪ The starting offensive line - from left to right - was Patrick Paul, Smith, Jack Driscoll, Lester Cotton and Ryan Hayes.

Paul played very well, and Sean Harlow (who can play guard and center) excelled in the run game in the second half. Driscoll held his own at center and didn’t have any bad snaps after enduring snapping problems during previous practices.

Hayes played the most snaps offensively - 65, or 96 percent of the snaps. Paul logged 63 snaps and Harlow 60. Receiver Kyric McGowan played the most among skill position players (40 snaps).

Cotton, whose preseason has been described as “phenomenal” by McDaniel, played 17 snaps - the fewest of the starting offensive linemen.

Former Miami Hurricanes receiver Harley Jr., who signed with Miami on Wednesday, played nine offensive snaps.

▪ Jason Sanders’ 58-yard field goal tied Caleb Sturgis (2013) for the longest preseason field goal by a Dolphins kicker this century.