The Miami Dolphins are 6-9 as they’ve officially clinched their second consecutive losing season. Next up for the Dolphins is a matchup against their Florida rivals, Tampa Bay. Miami has lost three straight matchups against the Buccaneers. Their last win came in the 2009 season when quarterback Chad Henne led the Dolphins to victory.
In their last three games, the Dolphins have featured a different starting quarterback. On Sunday, the Dolphins will feature their fourth quarterback against the Buccaneers. Rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers will make his second start. Of Ewers, head coach Mike McDaniel said, “ownership and command have had an uptick.”
Last Sunday, Ewers recorded the most passing yards by a rookie in their first start this season. Additionally, he became the Dolphins quarterback with the second most passing yards in his debut, behind only Dan Marino. Now, he’ll have a chance to build on that performance against the Buccaneers, a team that has the 24th-best defense in the NFL.
Dolphins Player Gets Crushing News
One player who will be unavailable for the Dolphins on Sunday is defensive back Isaiah Johnson. Mike McDaniel announced that the second-year player suffered a torn ACL in practice, which will keep him out for the remainder of the season. It’s brutal news for the Dolphins defender, as a torn ACL typically takes eight to 12 months of recovery time. Since the injury happened late in the season, he will likely miss a majority of the following season.
Johnson appeared in four games for the Dolphins this season, where he primarily played on special teams. His NFL debut occurred this year with the team after spending the 2024 season on the team’s practice squad. The Dolphins defensive back logged only three defensive snaps this year. Johnson is under contract with the team for the following season, but has no guaranteed money left on his deal.
Upcoming Dolphins Game vs Tampa Bay
The Dolphins will host their final home game of the season on Sunday, hoping to avoid their worst record under head coach Mike McDaniel. Miami is currently 3-4 in games played at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins have not lost ten or more games since the 2019 season, but a loss on Sunday would secure Miami’s worst season of the 2020s. Fortunately, sometimes a poor record can help the franchise. Following the results on Christmas, the Dolphins have moved to the 11th position in the upcoming NFL Draft. A loss on Sunday would improve their draft stock and have them inside the top 10.
Miami’s opponent is the 7-8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who, despite losing six of their last seven games, still have a chance of winning their division. The Bucs have also regained some of their playmakers recently, as Bucky Irving and Mike Evans, who spent much of the year injured, will both be available against the Dolphins. However, they will be without All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs. Meanwhile, the Dolphins will be without significant contributors like Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will be out for his second consecutive game with a calf injury.
Dolphins Player Gets Crushing News Before Buccaneers Game