The Miami Dolphins could also be with out beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for the foreseeable future after he suffered a concussion within the crew’s Week 2 loss to the Buffalo Bills. That is the most recent in what has turn out to be a rising record of head accidents involving the previous first-round choose, which is why the membership could also be embarking on an prolonged time period the place he’ll be on the sideline recovering.
As he does, Miami very nicely could also be handing the keys over to backup Skylar Thompson. Within the wake of Tagovailoa’s head harm, head coach Mike McDaniel described Thompson because the “next man up.”
“One of the best ways to articulate the place we’re at is that the crew and the group are very assured in Skylar,” McDaniel stated the morning after Tagovailoa’s harm. “There was a cause he was our backup quarterback..”
So, who’s Skylar Thompson? Let’s get to know the Dolphins quarterback.
Collegiate profession
The now 27-year-old spent fairly a little bit of time on the collegiate degree. He redshirted at Kansas State in 2016 after which spent 5 extra years with this system after that, departing after the 2021 season. Thompson ranks second on the college’s all-time main passing yards record with 7,134 yards by means of the air and third on the all-time passing touchdowns record with 42. He additionally proved to be a succesful runner inside the offense, and his 26 speeding touchdowns rank ninth all-time in program historical past.
Whereas he was top-of-the-line quarterbacks to roll by means of Kansas State, Thompson battled accidents all through his tenure. In 2020, he suffered a season-ending upper-body injury in opposition to Texas Tech in early October. He was additionally restricted in 2021 resulting from harm. Regardless of that, he completed with 7,124 yards passing in his profession to go together with 42 passing touchdowns and simply 16 interceptions.
Drafted by Miami in 2022
Whereas the seventh spherical of the 2022 NFL Draft shall be remembered because the draft that the San Francisco 49ers chosen Brock Purdy with the final choose, the quarterback that got here off the board earlier than him was Thompson. Miami took the Kansas State product with the 247th general choose that spring. Thompson was one in every of simply 4 choices the Dolphins made throughout that draft cycle.
Has beginning expertise
Thompson has beginning reps underneath his belt throughout his NFL profession as he is gotten the nod 3 times, together with a playoff begin. The Dolphins have gone 1-2 in these video games, which all occurred through the 2022 season. Thompson’s first begin got here in Week 6 of that 12 months in opposition to the Minnesota Vikings. The rookie wasn’t requested to do an excessive amount of, as he dropped again to cross simply 13 instances. He accomplished seven of these throws for 89 yards in what was a 24-16 loss. Thompson fared higher in his subsequent begin, which got here in Week 18 of that 12 months. He accomplished 64.5% of his passes for 152 yards in an 11-6 victory over the New York Jets.
Thompson’s subsequent begin was throughout Miami’s wild-card matchup in opposition to the Payments. In that sport, he accomplished solely 40% of his throws for 220 yards, a landing, and two interceptions. Nevertheless, the Dolphins did play Buffalo tight as their AFC East rival managed to flee by a discipline aim, defeating Miami 34-31.
