Tyler

Huntley

Huntley joined the Browns as a free agent this offseason and briefly made his way back to the Ravens after being cut by the Browns at the end of training camp. An injury to Tua Tagovailoa in Week 2 led to the Dolphins signing Huntley off the Ravens’ practice squad, where he would remain for the rest of the season. Huntley would make his first start for the Dolphins in Week 4, and wound up starting the team’s final two games of the season after Tagovailoa suffered a hip injury in Week 16. Huntley looked like a run of the mill backup, throwing for 829 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in his four starts while rushing for 26-135-2. Huntley will be an unrestricted free agent when the new league year officially starts and should have plenty of chances to compete for another backup role in training camp.

McDaniel’s tone hasn’t changed much since Wednesday when he said the team was preparing for Huntely to start. Tua Tagovailoa (hip) logged a limited practice on Thursday, but it doesn’t sound like he’s gained much ground on his recovery ahead of the team’s regular-season finale against the Jets. The Dolphins still have a chance to sneak into the AFC playoffs, but will need a win on Sunday over the Jets and the Chiefs, who are expected to play mostly backups, to beat the Broncos. Tagovailoa hasn’t played since suffering a hip injury in Week 16 against the 49ers, and may not play another regular season game until Week 1 of the 2025 season.

Tagovailoa has now been listed as a limited participant in back-to-back practices. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Wednesday that he doesn’t expect Tagovailoa to be ready for the Week 18 battle against the Jets, so even with the southpaw able to practice, it’ll still likely be Tyler Huntley under center for that season finale.

Tua Tagovailoa will be limited in Wednesday’s practice, so he isn’t entirely ruled out for Week 18. However, without being prepped as the starter, he is unlikely to play on Sunday. Huntley survived with a dink and dunk approach plus some rushing output in Miami’s Week 17 win over the Browns. He threw for 225 yards and a touchdown while running for another 52 yards and a score. Expect a similar game-plan versus the Jets. The Dolphins need a win and a Denver loss to make the playoffs.

“We are in gray area because... his body did not cooperate,” McDaniel said of Tagovailoa. The Dolphins are leaving it up in the air for now but it sure seems likely based on today’s updates that Huntley will start against the Jets in Week 18.

Huntley executed Mike McDaniel’s game plan effectively, dinking and dunking his way downfield from start to finish. He threw short of the sticks on 61.5 percent of his passes but received helpful yardage boosts from his speedy running backs and tight ends. Huntley’s best play was all his own though; a 13-yard rushing score in which he shook three would-be tacklers before leaping into the end zone. Had the Dolphins faced a high-powered offense, it is unlikely Huntley could have delivered the win but credit to him for beating the opponent he was given. Huntley is a mildly intriguing QB2 if he gets the start against the Jets in Week 18.

Huntley was activated off injured reserve Thursday, but he’ll be the emergency quarterback for Thursday’s bout against Green Bay. Skylar Thompson will be the backup for Tua Tagovailoa versus the Packers instead.

Huntley has been out since the end of October with his shoulder injury. The 26-year-old will be the backup to Tua Tagovailoa now that he’s healthy enough to return.

Huntley left the Dolphins’ Week 7 loss to the Colts with the shoulder injury and did not return. He will now miss at least four weeks while on injured reserve. Tim Boyle will serve as the backup to Tua Tagovailoa, who has been cleared to return from his concussion, going forward.

Huntley exited the Dolphins’ Week 7 loss to the Cardinals with a shoulder injury. With Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) slated to return in Week 8, Huntley’s status will determine the backup situation for Miami. If Huntley cannot go, it will likely be Tim Boyle as the backup against the Cardinals.