The Miami Dolphins will start quarterback Quinn Ewers against the Bengals in Week 16, giving the seventh-round selection his first NFL start at Hard Rock Stadium. Ewers was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft and will make his starting debut as Miami returns for the penultimate home game of the 2025 campaign. The Dolphins are out of playoff contention, but they remain focused on winning the football game.
Head Coach Mike McDaniel said Ewers has confidence and competitiveness as he prepares for the opportunity. “Quinn has a natural disposition of confidence, not cockiness but confidence, and I think if you saw his face on draft day, he’s a competitor that believes in himself. I think he was very excited for the opportunity but also very understanding of what that means,” McDaniel said.
Ewers said earning the start is a dream come true and expressed gratitude to the Dolphins staff for trusting him with the opportunity. “It’s a dream come true for me. I’ve always wanted to have the opportunity to play in the NFL, and for that to be coming is truly a blessing and I’m thankful for the opportunity. I’m just happy. It’s a wonderful opportunity and I’m super thankful that the staff believes in me to go out there and give us an opportunity to go win an NFL football game. I know going back on it, telling my 10-year-old, 12-year-old self the opportunity that I have in front of me, he’d be pretty stoked.”
Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith said Ewers has shown confidence, a great touch delivery and strong fundamentals during his progression with the team. “I think that as he came into camp and we kind of watched his progression as he was getting used to things, he has a confidence to the way he plays. I can see why the guys at Texas really felt confident playing with him. He has a great touch delivery, he’s really good with his fundamentals so we’re excited to see him play this week.”
Miami Dolphins prepare for Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow
Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver discussed the challenge of facing Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and the skill on the outside. Weaver said Miami must avoid being passive, maintain balance in its rush lanes and keep its pass rushers coordinated.
“The last thing you want to do against any of these guys with that skill set is be passive. You want to be balanced from a rush lane standpoint, and if you can funnel them in a particular way, particularly away from his throwing hand, then you’re going to do that. You just want to make sure all four of your rushers, hopefully five if you can, tough with the skill set they have on the outside, but you want to make sure your crew are coordinated in what you’re doing,” Weaver said.
Miami Dolphins focused on finishing strong
Outside Linebacker Bradley Chubb said the Dolphins still have goals to accomplish and want to play for one another over the next three weeks. He also said he does not take the opportunity to play at Hard Rock Stadium for granted, regardless of the team’s playoff position.
“Still work to do, still goals to accomplish. I was telling people earlier, I didn’t play at all last year and being able to be back on this field, I don’t take nothing for granted no matter if we’re playing for the Super Bowl or playing for nothing. We’re playing for something, playing for each other, playing for these next three weeks and it’s just about finishing it strong,” Chubb said.
McDaniel said the players remain motivated by their roles on the team and that each remaining NFL game represents a valuable opportunity. “Guys want to continue to play together on this team, however I think guys are motivated by this team and their role within it. My expectation is that we hit the ground running and prepare for this. These are invaluable opportunities that are finite NFL games. Our job is to go after it, and I think that’s why there’s clarity for them.”
Source: Original report