Tua Tagovailoa’s backup on Dolphins is Mike White; Skylar Thompson is QB3

MIAMI GARDENS — Mike White will be the quarterback leading the Dolphins if Tua Tagovailoa gets injured.

Coach Mike McDaniel announced Monday that White has won the backup quarterback competition over Skylar Thompson.

“We’ll be going with Mike White as the backup to start the season,” McDaniel said. “We feel super fortunate in our situation.”

McDaniel said the decision came down to “veteran experience” but credited both players with competing “until the last rep.”

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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Mike White (14) during a preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium on Friday, August 11, 2023, in Miami Gardens, FL.

White, 28, has seven NFL starts in his career out of eight games played for the Jets the past two seasons. White, who is from Pembroke Pines and attended University School adjacent to the Dolphins’ old practice facility in Davie, saw only spot duty in preseason because of a concussion. He completed 9-of-14 passes for 85 yards with no touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 51.2

Thompson, 26, completed 40-of-62 preseason passes for 396 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions for a rating of 71.7.

For their careers, White has an edge in experience. He has completed 191-of-307 passes for 2,145 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions and a rating of 75.4. Thompson is 60-of-105 for 534 yards, one TD and three interceptions and a 62.2 rating.

“When it really came down to it, I thought they both made just cases,” McDaniel said. “ … To be able to understand our system in such a short period of time that Mike White did, and the command that he really that he exudes in the huddle, you’re solving imperfect puzzle as a backup quarterback where you don’t get any of the reps during the week and have to master your situation, your craft.”

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at  [email protected]. Follow him on…

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