There were plenty of positives from the Miami Dolphins’ 20-13 win against the Atlanta Falcons in their preseason opener, but the quarterbacks weren’t among them.
Skylar Thompson got the start with Tua Tagovailoa held out of action, but the third-year quarterback completed only eight of his 19 passes for 95 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mike White took over in the second half, but managed to complete just four of his 14 passes for 26 yards.
“For everyone, [preseason is] to get the jitters out, for them to get back into the routine of things,” Tagovailoa said Tuesday. “I’m sure it was a little dicey for them getting out there because you’re getting new guys. It’s not the same guys as last year that are snapping to you, that you’re having to call the plays to, you’re having to tell what to do, so everything is new with the guys that they got to go with. I think they handled themselves really well, I think they did a pretty good job.”
The list of players out of action against the Falcons was lengthy. Offensive linemen Terron Armstead, Austin Jackson, Kendall Lamm, Aaron Brewer, and Isaiah Wynn were all out. Wide receivers Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe didn’t play either.
“We had a rough, rough set of circumstances,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said after the game. “We were down in the second half to one tight end and one running back and we had a receiver that we just got on board two days ago, so it was a tough situation for [White] to be in, and I thought he maintained his composure, but we still have a ton of work to do.
Still, the “neck and neck” race between White and Thompson for No. 2 on the depth chart behind Tagovailoa didn’t have the most promising showing. Perhaps a more complete roster on Saturday against the Washington Commanders will allow one of the passers to emerge in the battle.
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