The Miami Dolphins backup quarterback competition between Skylar Thompson and Mike White appears to be heating up.
According to the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson and Omar Kelly, Thompson, a former seventh-round pick, has been getting a lot of work and is being paired with some notable players.
“While we’re not permitted to identify order of the quarterbacks in practice, it’s notable that Thompson has been receiving a ton of work this week after starting last Friday’s game,” Jackson and Kelly wrote. “It’s also notable the players whom Thompson has been paired alongside, compared with White. (Again, team rules prohibit expanding on that.)”
Thompson started Miami’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons and completed eight of his 19 pass attempts for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also carried the ball two times for six yards.
White didn’t attempt as many passes as Thompson, and he struggled during his playing time. The veteran backup was 4 for 14 for 26 yards. He did not throw a touchdown or a pick in the win over Atlanta.
Thompson has not played in a regular season game since his rookie season in 2022, but it appears he could take the backup job from White, who signed with Miami in free agency last offseason.
White is currently in the second season of a two-year, $8 million contract, and he won the backup job in the 2023 season, although starter Tua Tagovailoa played in every regular season and playoff game for the Dolphins.
A former fifth-round pick, White appeared in six games during the 2023 season and attempted six passes, completing five of them for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
While it’s unclear who Thompson has been getting snaps with during practice, it’s possible that the coaching staff has seen some development from the youngster since his rookie season. Back in the 2022 campaign, Thompson appeared in seven games and made two starts.
He threw for 534 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions while completing 57.1 percent of his passes.
With Tagovailoa locked in as the starter, the Dolphins may want to get a long look at both Thompson and White in their second preseason game on Saturday against the Washington Commanders.
That matchup is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. EST from Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.