In a world the place the backup quarterback is typically the preferred man on the town, Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson, the rookie seventh-round choose from Kansas State who dazzled in preseason, is attempting to remain low key.
It’s been pretty straightforward thus far.
We’ll see whether or not it lasts.
“Fans, media, coaches, everybody in football, your favorite player is the backup quarterback,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated. “The grass is greener.”
For the time being, that’s Thompson’s function, backup quarterback. Tua Tagovailoa is in concussion protocol. That means Teddy Bridgewater is the starter for Sunday’s recreation on the New York Jets, and Thompson, who began the season because the No. 3 quarterback, is now No. 2.
Thompson was a preseason star. Everything he touched turned to gold. He moved the offense, he made the best selections, he threw deep, and he was correct.
He completed with 450 passing yards, 5 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a glowing 138.4 passer score.
Michael Deiter performs middle and guard on the scout crew alongside Thompson every week in follow.
“He’s super commanding in the huddle, and most importantly knows all of his [expletive], he’s on top of his stuff, which is good, and he goes out and he plays with confidence and really cuts it loose,” Deiter stated. “You saw it in preseason. He wasn’t wasting any time getting the ball out, he was putting it on guys.”
Last week at Cincinnati he bought to placed on a NFL jersey for a daily season recreation for the primary time, and he bought to throw passes in pregame warmups for the primary time.
“It was exciting,” he stated. “It’s a big moment, first time getting to put a jersey on during the season is a cool moment for me and my family and all that.”
This week he’s fielded calls from former highschool and school coaches who’re blissful he’s serving as a backup quarterback this week.
Now, because the backup quarterback, Thompson is one play away from the highlight, the recent seat, the chance of a lifetime, no matter you need to name it.
There’s a small phase of Dolphins followers who needed Thompson to be named the starter forward of Bridgewater.
Thompson isn’t getting caught up in that stuff.
“Everybody has their opinion on whatever,” he stated. “All of that is white noise to me. I’m just focused on what I have been focused on since the day I got here, which is getting better every day, trying to put myself in position to help the team win.”
Thompson did that in preseason.
A stir was created.
The chatter was legitimized when the Dolphins determined to maintain Thompson on the 53-man roster as an alternative of attempting to sneak him onto the follow squad, a transfer that might have uncovered him to waivers, which might possible have led to him being claimed by one other crew.
Deiter recalled his first impressions of Thompson.
“My initial thought was the kid is confident,” Deiter stated. “He went on the market early in camp and was placing balls on guys. He was throwing precisely and he was throwing stuff that some guys have been nervous to throw, which is enjoyable to see, guys that need to make performs, that push the ball down the sector. He did that instantly and it was cool to see, like, ‘Hey, this rook’s bought a bit of little bit of juice.’
“It was cool to know we had three quarterbacks that could cut it loose and win games for us right away, early in camp.”
Thompson was inactive for the primary three video games however Tagovailoa’s harm in opposition to Buffalo opened the door for Thompson to be lively for the Cincinnati recreation.
Of course, actuality got here in additional methods than one when Tagovailoa was sacked and left the sport on a stretcher. Bridgewater abruptly turned the starter and Thompson was the backup, one play from making his NFL debut. It didn’t occur however Thompson stated he was prepared then, and is prepared now. He stated he’s approached every week as if he’d be the starter.
“I feel very prepared,” he stated. “And like I stated, it form of goes again to the best way that I’ve approached it because the season has began, simply getting ready like I’m the starter every week so if one thing like this occurs I don’t must ramp all the things up like, ‘I’ve bought to do that, I’ve bought to try this.’ “
Despite all of the chatter, Thompson is aware of the deal. He’s the man folks need to see (out of curiosity) and the man folks don’t need to see (as a result of it means Bridgewater is injured or not enjoying effectively).
He’s simply attempting to do his job.
“My role here is to help support Teddy,” Thompson stated. “He’s the starter, he’s our man. I’ve appeared as much as Teddy because the second I’ve gotten into this locker room.
“Whatever I can do to help the team in this position is what I’m going to do, and I’m excited for that.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com