Dolphins deliver private clue about 2025 QB plan. And Tagovailoa, Waddle, Hill questionable

Impending unrestricted free agent Tyler Huntley, who was named the Dolphins’ No. 2 quarterback earlier this month, told The Miami Herald on Friday that the team has expressed an interest in bringing him back next season.

Does that mean the Dolphins’ decision on Tua Tagovailoa’s backup for 2025 is settled? No, because A). the Dolphins and Huntley first need to agree on a contract presuming Miami doesn’t change its mind and B). A source said that Miami could bring in another player worthy of competing for the No. 2 job, though that would be financially challenging.

But Huntley’s comments at his locker on Friday suggest that he’s in the plans regardless.

“I got a good feeling I’m going to be home for a little bit,” the Dania Beach native Huntley said, confirming that Miami’s interest in keeping him beyond this season has been conveyed to his agent, Zeke Sandhu. “I’m going to be down here in Miami in a little bit. It’s all God’s plans, but I’ve got a good feeling I’ll be home for a little bit.”

Huntley went 1-2 as a starter for the Dolphins this season, with one touchdown pass, one interception and a 73.9 rating while Tagovailoa was out with a concussion. But he didn’t have a firm grasp of what he calls a “very complex” offensive system in his first game against Tennessee, and played better after that point.

In 2023, he had three TDs, no interceptions and a 99.3 rating in five appearances and one start for Baltimore.

For his career, Huntley, 26, has a 4-8 record, nine touchdowns, eight interceptions and a 78.2 passer rating. Of his 23 NFL appearances, 20 have been as a Baltimore Raven.

The Cleveland Browns signed Huntley in the 2024 offseason but cut him in late August. Huntley then returned to the Ravens, where he played four seasons, primarily as a backup. Miami poached him off Baltimore’s practice squad after Tagovailoa was concussed in Week 2 against Buffalo.

Skylar Thompson started the first game that Tagovailoa missed, a 24-3 loss in Seattle, but struggled and sustained a chest injury. He never started again and is now on the Dolphins’ practice squad.

In early December, Mike McDaniel announced that Huntley had supplanted Thompson as the No.2 quarterback.

In explaining the decision, offensive coordinator Frank Smith referenced Huntley’s mobility and his “ability to extend” plays. “When your starter has a skill set and another has a different skill set, that’s a challenge on the defense,” Smith said.

The Dolphins have less than $5 million in 2025 cap space at the moment, and Huntley likely would be more affordable than a handful of players in a free agent class that is set to include Sam Darnold and Russell Wilson (who both likely will get a starting jobs somewhere), Justin Fields, Cooper Rush, Jameis Winston, Mac Jones, Carson Wentz, Joe Flacco, Jimmy Garoppolo, Mason Rudolph, Andy Dalton, Marcus Mariota, Drew Lock, Zach Wilson, Trey Lance and Jarrett Stidham.

Huntley also has the advantage of having learned McDaniel’s system and played in it for three months.

Huntley was a standout at Hallandale High; he won the 2015 Gatorade Player of the Year and went 34-10 as a four-year starter. He passed for 9,053 yards and 106 touchdowns and set the Florida high school record for single-game passing attempts with 71, according to MaxPreps.

At Utah, Huntley was a first-team All-Pac-12 selection as a senior. Baltimore signed him as undrafted free agent in 2020.

Injury report

The Dolphins ruled out two players for Sunday: cornerback Kendall Fuller and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr., who both have knee injuries.

The Dolphins listed Tua Tagovailoa as questionable with a hip injury, but Tagovailoa has indicated he will continue to play through it. He was limited all week in practice.

Asked Thursday how his hip is, Tagovailoa said: “I mean it’s good. It’s just like anyone else on the team and anyone else around the league. You get banged up little bit towards the ending of the year so just got to take care of that.”

Tyreek Hill also was listed as questionable, but he has consistently played through a wrist injury all season.

Left tackle Terron Armstead was listed as questionable, but McDaniel expressed optimism that he will play.

Less clear is the status of receiver Jaylen Waddle and safety Jordan Poyer, who also are listed as questionable.

Waddle, who missed the 49ers game with a knee injury, was a limited practice participant on Thursday and Friday. Asked if he will play Sunday, Waddle responded: “I feel good. They kind of limited me a little bit, but for the most part got through everything. They wanted me to hold back some parts. There is always a chance, always a chance.”

Poyer, who has knee and finger injuries, practiced on a limited basis on Friday.

Receiver Dee Eskridge (knee) is the sixth Dolphins player listed as questionable.

Linebacker Jordyn Brooks (quad/knee) has no injury designation and will play.

Campbell update

Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell said he hopes to decide by March if he wants to play next season and reiterated that the Dolphins will be a consideration if he chooses to play, and if Miami wants him back. Pro Football Focus ranks Campbell as the NFL’s sixth best interior defensive lineman this season.

Also, if the Dolphins are eliminated from playoff contention this weekend, Campbell could be released early next week in order to join a Super Bowl contender. He says he would need to be released early next week, well before the Week 18 game, to be eligible to join another team for postseason. “Nothing has changed” with that, Campbell said.

The Dolphins broached that idea to Campbell when they were considering trade options for him in November. Mike McDaniel intervened and vetoed a proposed trade to Baltimore, with general manager Chris Grier’s blessing. Baltimore had offered a fifth-round pick. According to The Athletic, another undisclosed team offered a fourth-round pick for Campbell and a Dolphins late round pick; Campbell has declined to identify that team.

▪ Liam Eichenberg and Isaiah Wynn both played well in their right guard platoon against the 49ers, and Eichenberg said even though he feared his rhythm might be disrupted, it wasn’t.

“I was wondering about that,” Eichenberg said. “But once you’re out there, you forget you weren’t out there.”

Eichenberg, who previously had played every right guard snap this season, said: “Isaiah deserves to be out there as well. Of course, I wish I was out there the whole game.” But he said he’s happy doing whatever the team wants.

Eichenberg, who has been battling a shoulder injury for weeks, said he felt better physically after the game.