Dolphins Tua Tagovailoa Benched For Fitzpatrick!

During the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 20-13 loss to the Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick replaced Tua Tagovailoa. Read on since coach Brian Flores said was not injury-related. Continue on for more details on Tua Tagovailoa Benched…

CelebnSports247.com reports that coach Brian Flores made clear that there will be no wholesale quarterback changes, meaning that Tagovailoa will remain the Dolphins’ starter despite being benched for his performance Sunday.

Remember when Ryan Fitzpatrick was not happy about Tua replacing him as the starter?

Flores said:

Tua wasn’t injured. We just felt like it was the best move at that point of the game. We had to get in two-minute mode, and we felt like [Fitzpatrick] gave us the best chance to win the game, and we had an opportunity at the end to tie it.

On Sunday, the Dolphins trailed 20-10 when Tagovailoa was benched, with Flores saying the team needed a spark.

Tagovailoa had some rookie struggles handling pressure Sunday, going 11-of-20 passing for 83 yards and a touchdown with little effectiveness moving the ball. He also wasn’t helped by his offensive line. He was sacked six times — more than he was sacked (four) in four previous games.

Tagovailoa said:

My thoughts were whatever was going to be best for the team. When I was in, we couldn’t really get things going. Coach felt like it was best to put Fitz in to give us a spark. When I heard that, it was really what’s best for the team. If we were to win with Fitz in there, the locker room would be different. Everyone would be a lot happier. It just sucks to lose.

The Dolphins came alive when Fitzpatrick entered the game, as he immediately led a field goal drive to trim the score to 20-13, showing his chemistry with DeVante Parker and Mike Gesicki. He then came 15 yards shy of completing a tying drive that started on his team’s 1-yard line after a Melvin Gordon fumble.

Fitzpatrick, who finished 12-of-18 passing for 117 yards and the interception.

He said:

It’s very clear that this is Tua’s team. Tua is going to continue to get better and grow. For me, my defined role is whatever the team needs out of me. There’s no controversy. This is his team. He’s going to lead this team and continue to lead the team. We just got to pull in the right direction and get everybody to continue to get better.

Coach Flores said he isn’t worried about this benching impacting Tagovailoa’s confidence as he returns to the starting lineup.

Flores said: