Miami Dolphins' Mike McDaniel ’very encouraged' by Tyler Huntley's progress
(This story was updated to add new information.)
MIAMI GARDENS — Mike McDaniel has a pretty good idea who will start at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins on Monday night against Tennessee.
He just isn’t saying.
McDaniel has to choose from among Skylar Thompson, Tyler “Snoop” Huntley and Tim Boyle as Tua Tagovailoa continues to recover from a concussion on injured reserve.
“I have in my mind what I think, how it could play out,” McDaniel said Thursday. “However, it's a little premature for a multitude of reasons. And the very last being the competitive advantage.”
More: Miami Dolphins' Mike McDaniel weighs options on Skylar Thompson, QBs
Thompson was knocked out of last weekend’s game in Seattle with a rib injury, which McDaniel described as “pretty painful.”
Barring a quick recovery by Thompson, that could open the door for Huntley.
Regarding Thompson, McDaniel said, “I'm just letting the process take care of itself, and I know he'll do what he's capable of doing, but he won't put himself or he won't put the team in harm's way if he's unable to execute some of the jobs. So we'll play that by ear. But not expecting him to get a ton of team stuff.”
Thompson played catch with QB coach Darrell Bevell as Thursday's practice began. But during the portion of practice open to reporters, Thompson was limited.
Huntley, who attended Hallandale High, was signed Sept. 17.
“I'm feeling much more knowledgeable about exactly where he's at over the course of the last half week and very, very encouraged,” McDaniel said. “Chris (GM Chris Grier) and his staff, in conjunction with the coaching staff, we targeted him for a reason. And it's a player that we're very familiar with from the opponent's standpoint.”
For his part, Huntley said he's going about his normal routine this week.
"Just like you approach every week: get in the plan as hard as I can, just watching film, just prepare like I'm going to start," he said.
Boyle actually relieved Thompson against the Seahawks, but that was largely because he was signed Aug. 29 and therefore had a head start on learning the offense over Huntley.
“For that game, I felt Tim would be more prudent,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel remembers 49ers acquiring Jimmy Garoppolo in 2017
McDaniel compared Huntley’s situation to what occurred in 2017 when McDaniel was on the staff of the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners traded for QB Jimmy Garoppolo, sending New England a second-round pick, on Oct. 31.
They then started Garoppolo on Dec. 12 in Chicago. San Francisco won 15-14 as Garoppolo completed 26 of 37 passes for 293 yards with no TDs and one interception. That was the start of a season-ending five-game winning streak for the 49ers. Garoppolo had at least 300 passing yards against Houston and Tennessee in the two games after the Bears.
“We were able to win a football game and won several after that with Jimmy that year,” McDaniel said. “And you naturally reflect on, ‘OK, how do you pull that off?' It really puts into perspective the relationship that quarterbacks have with the team and the players that they're playing with. Because to win football games like Jimmy did, your team has to believe in you. Well, where does that come from? Well, It's not all the reps that we've had throughout training camp. We weren't there with them. There's an unspoken confidence and conviction that a person has to have where guys believe that regardless of how long they've played with them.”
In other injury news, McDaniel said left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller remain in concussion protocol.
Linebacker David Long (hamstring) did not practice Thursday. Cornerback Storm Duck (shoulder) wore a red, non-contact jersey.
Palm Beach Post staff writer Joe Schad contributed to this report. Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com.Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
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This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins' Mike McDaniel encouraged by Tyler Huntley crash course
