Dolphins reduce Mike White as Skylar Thompson wins QB2 job

MIAMI — The Dolphins launched quarterback Mike White on Sunday, ending a monthslong place battle with Skylar Thompson for the backup job behind Tua Tagovailoa.

White, 29, signed a two-year deal price $8 million with Miami final offseason and operated because the Dolphins’ backup quarterback all through the 2023 season. He noticed motion in six video games, finishing 5 of 6 passes for 74 yards, one landing and one interception.

He cut up reps with Thompson, 27, all through the Dolphins’ offseason program this yr, nonetheless, as coach Mike McDaniel regarded to settle the place through a sequence of stress checks in follow.

“The method that I’ve sort of taken is to create tremendous troublesome conditions for each of them … as a result of what are we actually attempting to judge?” McDaniel stated. “We’re attempting to judge who’s finest to serve dealing with a troublesome state of affairs. Inherent in being a backup quarterback is that you’re in a troublesome state of affairs, whether or not that is in sport or beginning a sport. So, we thought it was most applicable to do this, and the way that is introduced itself in follow is I’ve gotten a ton of knowledge. … It is fairly actually dealing with troublesome conditions and saying, ‘Hey, it’s important to go do that. I will name this play, in all probability in opposition to a non-premier protection. And let’s examine what you do.’

“… I am on the lookout for nuances, resolve, the conviction after a foul play occurs, how the offense is coming to the road of scrimmage, the way you’re main them, all kinds of various issues on prime of what I’ve already realized about them.”

White accomplished 20 of 43 passes this preseason for 179 yards. Thompson accomplished 35 of 61 passes for 379 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

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Releasing White saves the Dolphins $3.5 million in opposition to the wage cap this season.

A seventh-round decide in 2022, Thompson was thrust into motion as a rookie after a sequence of accidents to Tagovailoa and first backup Teddy Bridgewater. He performed in eight video games and made three begins, together with within the Dolphins’ loss to the Buffalo Payments within the AFC wild-card spherical. He didn’t play in 2023, working because the crew’s emergency quarterback in all 18 video games.

White, who began eight video games for the New York Jets in two seasons earlier than becoming a member of the Dolphins, has thrown for two,219 yards in his profession with 9 landing passes and 13 interceptions whereas finishing 62.6% of his go makes an attempt. He was initially a fifth-round draft alternative by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018.

The Dolphins additionally launched tight finish Jody Fortson Jr. and positioned large receiver Anthony Schwartz on injured reserve Sunday as they started to trim their roster to the 53-man restrict by Tuesday’s deadline.