Mike McDaniel’s QB2 decision could test Dolphins’ faith in Zach Wilson’s $6M signing

Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel stopped short of naming his backup quarterback before Sunday’s matchup with the Atlanta Falcons, leaving the competition between veteran Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers unresolved.

Wilson, signed in the offseason to a guaranteed one-year, $6 million deal, opened the season as Tua Tagovailoa’s No. 2 option but was replaced before last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns.

Now, as the Dolphins reach Week 8, McDaniel’s evaluation could determine whether his staff still believes in their high-priced offseason acquisition or if the future may already belong to a seventh-round rookie.

McDaniel weighs Wilson’s contract and Ewers’ rise

McDaniel said both quarterbacks elevated their level of play this week, delaying a final call.

“It was well responded to, something that you don't know going into it, what is going to play out,” he told reporters Friday. “Both guys have really risen to the challenge. It was their best week of practice by far.”

He added that Friday’s session would include more competitive drills to “have another day, have more tape, and give guys an opportunity to hold on to that job for the foreseeable future.”

Wilson has been the backup for six games this season but lost that spot ahead of the Browns matchup. The shift came without public explanation, raising questions about Miami’s confidence in the former New York Jets quarterback, who has struggled to adapt to McDaniel’s quick-processing offensive system.

If Ewers has indeed surpassed Wilson in practice despite limited reps behind Tagovailoa, the decision reflects poorly on the Dolphins’ offseason strategy.

McDaniel previously said Wilson was the quarterback he wanted from the start of free agency, following underwhelming performances from Skylar Thompson, Tim Boyle, and Tyler Huntley last year.

Ewers’ emergence, though, gives the Dolphins a developmental option for the future. It could also hint at a subtle shift in organizational focus from short-term wins to long-term evaluation.

With Tagovailoa healthy, the outcome may not immediately affect Miami’s record, but it underscores deeper uncertainty about the team’s depth and decision-making. McDaniel now faces a delicate balance: honoring a $6 million investment or trusting his instincts with a rookie who may better fit his system.

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