Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Tuesday that he will stick with Tyler Huntley as the starting quarterback as Miami limps back to work with a 1-3 record and a trip to New England dead ahead.
The Dolphins rank last, one spot below the Patriots, in points per game (11.3) this season. Miami lost 31-12 at home on Monday night to the previously winless Tennessee Titans, a third consecutive defeat.
During the skid, the Dolphins have scored a total of 25 points. Miami was No. 2 in scoring in the NFL last season at 29.2 points per game.
“We’re planning on going with Tyler,” McDaniel said at his press conference. “After reviewing the tape, there’s reasons for guys to be excited about that because while the output wasn’t nearly what we wanted offensively, there were some things to build upon that we’ll keep working through.”
Huntley completed 14 of 22 passes for 96 yards, and he also rushed for a score.
Huntley’s 1-yard scoring run with 3:36 left in the game ended the Dolphins’ dubious streak of 10 straight quarters without a touchdown.
Miami will have receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on the practice field this week for the first time since he signed with the team in May.
Beckham is on the physically unable to perform list due to an undisclosed injury. A decision on whether he’s ready to play against New England will come later in the week.
Beckham, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, signed a one-year deal worth up to $8.25 million with the Dolphins.
Meanwhile, the offense has sputtered since starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa sustained a concussion in Week 2 and his return remains uncertain. A week earlier, Skylar Thompson started at quarterback but sustained an injured rib and was unable to get in a full practice last week.
McDaniel said Tuesday that Thompson is still bothered by the injury.
The Dolphins had just 184 yards of total offense against the Titans. They had 84 entering the final stanza.
“On the field that’s not even close to good enough,” McDaniel said Monday night.
“Everything’s on the table. To me, in a situation like this, I haven’t really been in one where we haven’t had production. You really have to have an open mind to all things.”
Star wideout Tyreek Hill was visibly frustrated late in the game. He had just four catches for 23 yards.
Huntley took the blame for not getting Hill the ball more.
“I just got to hone into being on time with them and get more reps on it,” Huntley said of the passing offense. “That’s the only way we’re going to build is if we get more reps.”
McDaniel said the game plan was built around “all things (Huntley) was comfortable with” using elements of his previous offenses with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.
McDaniel felt an early turnover on a lateral pass flipped momentum.
“Ultimately there’s nothing good about this situation right now in terms of where our team wants to be,” McDaniel said. “We need to do enough to win a football game against any opponent. Right now, that’s not the case. We need to fix that fast.”
–Field Level Media
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