Dolphins Stock Report (Day 18): Second-team work has helped Skylar Thompson grow

This camp Skylar Thompson claims he’s learning more about himself than he is the Miami Dolphins offense.

For the first time during his tenure in Miami, Thompson has spent most of camp serving as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup because the Dolphins seem to be evaluating if there’s more upside in his game, assessing if the 2022 seventh-round pick is ready to have an elevated role, and with them comes raised expectations.

“I’ve learned a lot about myself,” said Thompson, the former Kansas State standout. “This has probably been one of my favorite camps. You have to take every day as it’s own and not look ahead, and not get ahead of myself, just attack the day and take advantage of the opportunities I get.”

Backup quarterback has been Miami’s lone, prominent position battle of training camp, one that will go down to the wire, likely being decided by performances in Friday night’s preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Because of a new NFL rule that allows unlimited practice squad promotions for No. 3 quarterbacks, keeping a third passer on an NFL team’s 53-man roster is more of a luxury than a necessity, and that could mean one of those two might be released by next Tuesday.

Their stats in the two exhibition games played so far are eerily similar.

Thompson has completed 16 of 34 passes for 156 yards, with one touchdown, and an interception (58.0 rating).

White has gone 15 of 34 for 142 yards, with no touchdowns, and no interceptions thrown for (56.3 rating).

Plenty of factors could play into this roster decision, and that includes their salaries. Thompson will earn $2.1 million for the next two seasons because he’s still on his rookie deal. White’s slated to make $3.5 million this season, and all of that salary comes off Miami’s books if he’s released.

But this decision should be about performance, and upside. However, that’s not always how decisions are made in the NFL.

In Thompson’s first camp he was firmly entrenched behind Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater as the team’s No. 3 quarterback.

His second season in Miami, Thompson lost a close training camp battle with White, the newcomer Miami signed as a free agent, and spent all of 2023 running the scout-team offense, which gets the first-team defense ready for each week’s opponent.

Thompson said this camp has been tremendously different for him, and it has forced him to work on his leadership and communication skills.

“What I have enjoyed this camp is making mistakes, and then correcting them, whether it’s in a live rep or a couple of practices later,” Thompson said. “Seeing the learning really applied to the actual practice or game. “

TOP PERFORMER

Stock Up

With Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and River Cracraft sidelined, Erik Ezukanma became the main focus of the passing game, and delivered consistently for all of Miami’s quarterbacks until he limped off the field in the final minutes of practice. Ezukanma’s strong finish to training camp should keep the 2021 fourth-round pick safe when it comes to next week’s cuts, which will trim the roster down to 53 players.

In an end of practice two-point conversion situation, which gave every team’s first-team and second-team offense and defense a snap against one another starting from the 2-yard line, Calais Campbell deflected Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield’s pass at the line of scrimmage, ending the Buccaneers’ first-team offense’s rep. It capped a solid day, and respectable camp from the 37-year-old, who has seemingly inherited a leadership role with his new team.

Stock Down

In his first day back in 11-on-11s after being sidelined for a week with concussion symptoms, Ethan Bonner allowed a deep ball to be completed by Ryan Miller and slipped off the tackle, which would have allowed a 50-yard touchdown. This isn’t to pick on Bonner’s performance Wednesday. Even Jalen Ramsey, who didn’t participate in team drills, would struggle against Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans, but the second-year cornerback wasn’t playing with the same giddy up and swagger he usually has.

In fairness to David Long Jr., who has been nursing two injuries this camp, he’s respected for his run-stopping instincts. But the starting inside linebacker’s struggles in coverage can’t, or shouldn’t be ignored. He was beaten badly in 1-on-1s consistently, especially by Buccaneers rookie tailback Bruce Irving, and the Buccaneers completed plenty of passes to tight ends over the middle of the field during Wednesday’s joint practice. Because of Long’s struggles in coverage the Dolphins better hope the injury that has sidelined Anthony Walker Jr. three weeks heals quickly.

TAKEAWAY FROM THE DAY

New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver might have his work cut out for him early this season because of all the injuries Miami’s defenders are nursing. Starting nose tackle Benito Jones hasn’t practiced in three weeks. Safety Jordan Poyer is nursing a broken finger on his right hand, and safety Jevon Holland has been sidelined by an undisclosed injury. And that doesn’t even factor in the injuries that have limited cornerback Kendall Fuller, cornerback Ramsey, Long, linebacker Jordyn Brooks and others. The hope is that injuries will settle down and Miami’s defense won’t be forced to play the Sept. 8 season opener against Jacksonville with more than a couple backups in starting roles.

WHAT THEY SAID

“Day in and day out, he’s making tremendous plays, playing with a lot of confidence, leading our guys. I’m excited for him. I’m excited for the year, and for what he’s going to contribute to the team,” Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle on the growth he has seen from starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. “His biggest improvement is his communication. He’s really leading us out there in the huddle.”