Quinn Ewers is set to make his first career start in the NFL in Week 16 against the Bengals.

Named Week 16 starter

Ewers will start Sunday's game against the Bengals with the Dolphins having decided to bench Tua Tagovailoa, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Ewers, a rookie seventh-round pick, will get the chance to draw his first NFL start in place of Zach Wilson, who has operated as Miami's backup for the majority of the 2025 campaign. Per Rapoport, Ewers' opportunity comes as the result of his simply looking more impressive than Wilson in practices. The former Texas standout compiled significant experience as a starter in college and would doubtless have come off the board earlier in the 2025 NFL Draft had it not been for injury concerns, and he…read more

Remains emergency No. 3 QB

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game against the Steelers but will serve as the Dolphins' emergency third quarterback.

Analysis: Ewers will handle his usual role as Miami's emergency third-string quarterback, meaning he will only be eligible to take the field Monday if both Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson are forced out of the game. The only snaps Ewers has taken during the regular season thus far came Week 7 against the Browns.

Emergency QB3 for Week 14

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets but will serve as the Dolphins' emergency third quarterback.

Analysis: As the emergency QB3, Ewers is not allowed to see the field Sunday unless both Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson were to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Serving as emergency No. 3 QB again

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive and working as the Dolphins' emergency third quarterback for Sunday's Week 13 game against New Orleans.

Analysis: This is a familiar role for Ewers, who is behind both Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson on Miami's QB depth chart. In order for Ewers to be eligible to enter Sunday's contest, both Tagovailoa and Wilson would need to exit due to injury, illness or ejection.

Remaining as emergency QB

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as Miami's emergency third quarterback against Buffalo on Sunday.

Analysis: For a third straight game, Ewers will serve as the Dolphins' emergency third quarterback, which means he is not permitted to play Sunday unless both Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Emergency QB vs. Baltimore

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the Dolphins' emergency third quarterback against the Ravens on Thursday, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Analysis: Ewers will serve as the QB3 behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson for a second consecutive game. Ewers will not be allowed to play Thursday unless Tagovailoa and Wilson are both removed from the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Back to No. 3 QB

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons but will serve as the emergency third QB.

Analysis: It's a role that the Texas product has played all season behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson. However, Wilson and Ewers switched spots last week, only to revert to the usual order this week. Ewers would need Tagovailoa and Wilson to get sick, injured or ejected to have a chance to play. Ewers saw his first taste of action last week against Cleveland, completing five of eight passes for 53 yards.

Competing for No. 2 QB

Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Monday that Ewers will compete with Zach Wilson this week for the Dolphins' backup quarterback position, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.

Analysis: The rookie from Texas had served as the Dolphins' emergency third quarterback in each of the team's first six games but was promoted to the backup role in Week 7. Ewers entered Sunday's loss in the fourth quarter, completing five of eight pass attempts for 53 yards. However, his ball-security issues likely contributed to McDaniel's decision to open a competition for the No. 2 QB position, as Ewers fumbled twice on just 12 offensive snaps, though neither were recovered by the defense.

Promoted to No. 2 QB

Ewers will be the backup quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa during Sunday's game against the Browns, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Analysis: Zach Wilson had been the primary backup for the first six weeks of 2025, with Ewers serving as the emergency No. 3 QB. The only snaps Tagovailoa has missed this season came in Week 1 when the Colts were blowing out the Dolphins.

Emergency QB again

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Chargers but will serve as the emergency third QB.

Analysis: It's a role that the Texas product has been playing all season behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson. Ewers would need those two to get sick, injured or ejected to have a chance to play.

Emergency No. 3 QB

Ewers is the Dolphins' emergency No. 3 QB for Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Analysis: Ewers remains behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson in the Dolphins' QB pecking order and won't see the field Sunday unless both of the two players ahead of him end up sidelined as the game progresses.

Emergency QB against Jets

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday night's game against the Jets.

Analysis: Ewers will serve as the Dolphins' emergency third quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson. He'll only be able to enter the contest if both players are injured, suffer an illness or are ejected.

Emergency QB again

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday night's clash with the Bills.

Analysis: The quarterback will serve as the emergency option for the third week in a row to start the season, meaning he can only enter the contest if Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson get injured, sick or ejected. Ewers was drafted in the seventh round by the Dolphins back in April.

Emergency QB for Week 2

Ewers (coach's decision) is inactive and will serve as the Dolphins' emergency third-string quarterback for Sunday's game against the Patriots.

Analysis: Ewers will be Miami's emergency QB3 for a second consecutive week. That means he would only see the field Sunday if both Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson were to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

Serving as emergency QB in Week 1

Ewers is inactive and will work as Miami's emergency third quarterback Sunday versus Indianapolis.

Analysis: Ewers is third in the Dolphins' QB pecking order, so his inactive status comes as no surprise. In order for the 2025 seventh-round draft selection to be eligible to enter Sunday's contest, both Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson would need to be sidelined due to injury, illness or ejection.

Plays late in preseason win

Ewers completed seven of eight passes for 66 yards in Saturday's 14-6 preseason win over the Jaguars.

Analysis: Ewers was the third Dolphins quarterback to enter the game, and he quickly connected on a 21-yard gain with Andrew Armstrong. He otherwise attempted passes primarily in the short areas of the field while limiting mistakes. Ewers had an inconsistent first preseason as a pro and looks likely to serve as the third quarterback in Miami to begin the season.