The Dolphins saw quarterback Tua Tagovailoa stay healthy and start all 18 regular season and playoff games in 2023. Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for Tagovailoa to suffer his first concerning injury in 2024.

Tagovailoa suffered another concussion late in Miami’s “Thursday Night Football” loss early in Week 2. Given his history of multiple head injuries, he’s likely to miss some time with a team that was urged to be cautious after Tagovailoa received a lucrative contract extension in the offseason.

The Dolphins have just one reserve on the depth chart, Skylar Thompson, who again replaced Tagovailoa. Thompson was also scheduled to start a wild-card playoff game in place of an injured Tagovailoa against the Bills following the 2022 season.

Thompson is reportedly in line to start next Sunday’s game against the Seahawks in Seattle, but who are the Dolphins’ other potential replacement options for Tagovailoa? Here’s a look at the best fits for Mike McDaniel’s offense, not counting another first-round pick who previously started plenty of games for Miami.

MORE: How long will Tua Tagovailoa be out? | Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion history | What is ‘fencing stance’?

Dolphins’ Best Tua Tagovailoa Replacement Options

Skylar Thompson, Dolphins backup QB

Thompson has been the most active behind Tagovailoa, as the offensive coaching staff believes he is worthy of returning as the No. 2 overall pick. Aside from Mike White, who was cut by the Dolphins in the preseason and is now on the Bills’ practice squad, he has the most direct experience under McDaniel.

MORE: Dolphins QB Depth Chart | Tua Tagovailoa Contract Details

Josh Dobbs, 49ers backup QB

Dobbs is No. 3 on that depth chart, behind Brock Purdy and Brandon Allen. He was also traded last season, and made solid starts for the Cardinals and Vikings as a fill-in. He could also make a fair transition from Kyle Shanahan to former assistant McDaniel, and he proved last year that he has the veteran knowledge to keep his teams competitive.

Josh Johnson, Ravens backup QB

Tyler Huntley is back with the Ravens on the practice squad after leaving in free agency for the AFC North rival Browns but was cut before the season with Jameis Winston earning the top backup job behind Deshaun Watson. The Ravens could transition Huntley back into a familiar No. 2 role behind Lamar Jackson, freeing up Johnson, who spent 2022 with Shanahan and the 49ers. The Dolphins would be the 36-year-old Johnson’s seventh NFL team in just over seven years of action, from 2009 to the present.

CJ Beathard, free agent QB

Beathard is another former Shanahan QB who is in the mix after being traded from the Jaguars in favor of Trevor Lawrence’s new young backup, former Patriot Mac Jones. He made starts alongside current Vikings backup Nick Mullens in 2017, the year the 49ers traded Jimmy Garoppolo.

Jimmy Garoppolo, Rams backup QB

Garoppolo is serving a two-game suspension for violating the league’s PED policy, but he will be available to play in Week 3. Should the Rams be okay with having just Stetson Bennett behind Matthew Stafford, they could consider calls from McDaniel and the Dolphins for San Francisco’s final permanent starter ahead of Brock Purdy.

MORE: Why is Jimmy Garoppolo suspended for the first two games?

BUT NOT Ryan Tannehill, free agent QB

Really? Really? Okay, he started for the Dolphins in a different era, in a different offense, and he’s 36. He regressed significantly toward the end of his time with the Titans, a shadow of the rejuvenated starter who emerged there playing in an effective run-heavy system with Derrick Henry. There’s a reason Tannehill wasn’t signed by a team needing a backup in the offseason: He doesn’t have a true backup makeup and can’t be relied upon as a short-term replacement.

Tannehill was signed behind Marcus Mariota out of Tennessee, but that was with the intent that Mariota was about to lose his job and the Titans needed someone who could execute their passing game with equal athleticism but a stronger arm and more passing experience. When the Titans drafted Malik Willis and Will Levis in back-to-back years, it should have screamed that he was no longer a viable QB option.

Still, you can expect to hear Tannehill’s name every time a QB with a bad or inexperienced backup gets injured and misses a game in 2024.