The Skylar Thompson era with the Miami Dolphins is wrapping up. Once the hopeful backup quarterback to Tua Tagovailoa, Thompson has been outpaced by Tyler “Snoop” Huntley.

While Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t spell it out word for word during a press briefing at the Baptist Health Training Complex, his implications were crystal clear. As the Dolphins gear up to face the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium, it’s Huntley who’ll be suiting up as Tagovailoa’s backup.

Last week, Huntley was activated from injured reserve after recovering from a shoulder injury that sidelined him for over a month. “I wanted to see Snoop operate and everything,” McDaniel shared, previewing the change, “but the plan is to have him back Tua up this week.”

This transition happened shortly after Thompson’s brief and costly appearance against the New England Patriots, where a botched handoff with rookie Jaylen Wright turned into a fumble return for a touchdown. Though McDaniel refrained from pointing fingers explicitly and noted that replays didn’t conclusively show who fumbled the exchange, his dissatisfaction with the play’s execution was evident.

Despite expressing continued trust in Thompson, McDaniel’s decision to reshuffle the depth chart clearly speaks to his priorities.

Now, what’s the allure of Huntley, considering he hasn’t set the field on fire this season? In his trio of starts, the offense seemed stuck in neutral, averaging a mere 12.3 points per game.

Even against the Patriots in Week 5, despite rushing for 188 yards, the Dolphins could muster only 15 points. Huntley’s sub-60 percent completion rate, characterized by predominantly short throws, and a 73.9 passer rating left much to be desired.

Yet, Huntley somehow commands more confidence from McDaniel than Thompson — a statement as bold as any spoken word.

And that raises the question for Miami: Why hold a roster spot for Thompson? His trajectory on the team was arguably sealed when Huntley, and not Thompson, was selected to start the Week 7 matchup at Indianapolis — this despite Thompson having fully practiced post-recovery from a rib injury. Huntley’s performance didn’t resurrect the offense when Tagovailoa was on injured reserve; the unit struggled significantly, contrasting sharply with other teams overcoming similar quarterback crises.

Certainly, the offense is architected to play to Tagovailoa’s strengths, and continuity becomes a hurdle without sufficient practice reps. But clearly, the drop-off was drastic, hinting at shortcomings not just in McDaniel’s in-game adjustments but also the organization’s offseason strategy in securing a viable backup quarterback. Content with Thompson and Mike White, the Dolphins nonetheless bypassed seasoned free agents like Joe Flacco, Marcus Mariota, and Jimmy Garoppolo who were, at one point, available.

If the Dolphins are to avoid similar woes next season, bolstering their quarterback depth is not just recommended; it’s essential. While the possibilities are endless for who could fill that role, one thing seems increasingly certain: Skylar Thompson isn’t the future backup for the Dolphins. At least, not if Miami hopes to address the glaring gaps exposed this season.