Dolphins’ revamped QB room shows progress against Lions but both Zach Wilson & Quinn Ewers are already focused on the things they didn’t do in Miami’s 24-17 win
Zach Wilson & Quinn Ewers took some steps forward from their Dolphins debut but both already know they want some back from the team’s 24-17 win.
The Miami Dolphins‘ quest for a sturdy quarterback room has been a tireless battle in recent years. Starter Tua Tagovailoa lost valuable time last season in a turn of events that significantly hindered the Dolphins’ offensive execution. Miami went 2-4 in games started by quarterbacks not named ‘Tua Tagovailoa’ in 2024.
As a result, this team flushed the quarterback room behind Tua this offseason and remodeled the room. The Dolphins achieved this by signing free agent quarterback Zach Wilson and drafting former Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers in the seventh-round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Both new back-ups endured frustrating debuts in the team’s preseason opener against Chicago last weekend — but both also enjoyed more productive and promising encores this afternoon in Detroit.
Things were by no means perfect. Wilson, who played the first half, missed a few throws that he wanted back and saw a drive stall in the red zone as a result. Ewers played with promising timing but had a near-miss on an interception along the sideline backed up in his own end late in the game. Now, with Miami’s 24-17 win over the Detroit Lions in the books, it’s time to check the tape and make corrections. Wilson, though, already knows of two passes he wishes he could have back.
Zach Wilson shows promising growth but already knows he wants a few back from Saturday in Detroit
“There was two, for sure, that I want back. I had the deep one to (Dee Eskridge) that I under-threw him on. He’s fast. It was a far throw. A lot farther than I think I was anticipating when I originally threw it. So I want that one back and then the one in the end zone — kind of a layered ball back over the top of the backer in the end zone that I definitely want back as well.”
— Dolphins back-up quarterback Zach Wilson
Wilson’s two throws in question are definitely good ones to want back. The first appeared to be a big post to Dee Eskridge down the field with several yards of separation on the defender trailing him. Wilson had a clean opportunity to gear into the throw and simply hung the ball too long in the air and short of Eskridge’s momentum, which pulled the defender back into the play for a near-interception. Had Wilson led him, it would have been a walk-in touchdown. Wilson’s other near-miss came on a target into the corner of the end zone, where the ball just grazed off the fingertips of an outstretched receiver. Miami would go on to turn the ball over on downs with a sack taken on the following play.
Wilson finished the first half 15/23 passing for 151 passing yards and one touchdown. With a connection on either of Wilson’s other two throws, Wilson could have pushed for over 200 yards passing and, obviously, finished the day with two scores.
Wilson, however, was not alone in the post-game for lamenting some of the missed opportunities against Detroit.
Rookie Quinn Ewers eager to apply learning lessons from the tape
“I think on paper it looked like I had a pretty good game but there’s some throws out there and some reads out there that I wish I had back. Which is the cool part about it. The film and the way you feel after a game is not always as good as how you think it was or as bad as how you think it was. I think last week, on paper, it looked pretty bad but I felt like I made a lot of good decisions. And this week, on paper, it looks really good but there’s going to be a lot of stuff for me to learn from on this tape. I think the receivers did a really good job this week — I had no sacks, I think the o-line blocked their tails off today. Helped me remain comfortable in the pocket. But for me personally, there’s some things that I need to learn from.”
— Dolphins rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers
Ewers had a near miss on a turnover and, just as important, appeared to have an opportunity to put the Dolphins’ win on ice with his legs. Ewers helped command a 15-play, 92 yard scoring drive in the fourth-quarter to assume a seven-point lead but on a third-and-goal from the Lions’ three-yard line and 2:00 minutes remaining in regulation, Ewers booted to his right and appeared to have space to tuck the ball and run in a touchdown that would have made it a two-possession game.
Instead, Ewers tried to squeeze a tight throw in to fellow rookie wide receiver Theo Wease for what would have been the pair’s third touchdown of the day.
The good news for both Ewers and Wilson is that corrections and adjustments are always more fun to make after a win. So the flight home from Detroit this evening can come with some more light-hearted conversations as both of Miami’s new quarterbacks in 2025 look to continue leveling up their game — just in case the Dolphins will need them when they start playing for keeps.
Miami Dolphins News
‘Sh*t had me hype’ — Former Dolphins star sets the record straight and offers first-hand account of practice dust-up between Miami teammates
Former Dolphins Pro Bowl tackle Terron Armstead shared his account of the practice scrap between Dolphins teammates on Friday in Chicago.
| Be part of the A to Z Sports community and vote in our latest Miami Dolphins poll as the preseason gets underway. |
