The battle between Skylar Thompson and Mike White for the Miami Dolphins backup quarterback spot appears to be heating up.
According to Barry Jackson and Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald, Thompson, a former seventh-round pick, is getting a lot of work and has been paired with some big-name players.
“While we are not permitted to reveal quarterback rotations at practice, it is worth noting that Thompson, who started last Friday's game, has received a large amount of practice this week,” Jackson and Kelly wrote. “Also notable are the players Thompson is paired with compared to White (again, team rules prohibit further comment).”
Thompson started in Miami's preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons and completed 8 of 19 passes for 95 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He also carried the ball twice for six yards.
White didn't attempt as many passes as Thompson and struggled during his playing time, with the veteran reserve completing just 4 of 14 for 26 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions in the win over Atlanta.
Thompson hasn't played in a regular-season game since his rookie season in 2022, but he appears likely to take on the backup job for White, who signed with Miami as a free agent last offseason.
White is currently in the second year of a two-year, $8 million contract and has earned himself the backup position for the 2023 season, even though starter Tua Tagovailoa has played every regular-season and playoff game for the Dolphins.
White, a former fifth-round pick, appeared in six games during the 2023 season, attempting six passes and completing five of them for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
It's unclear who Thompson has been playing with during practice, but it's possible the coaching staff has been watching the youngster's development since his rookie season. In the 2022 season, Thompson appeared in seven games, making two starts.
He completed 57.1 percent of his passes for 534 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions.
With Tagovailoa set to start, the Dolphins may want to test both Thompson and White in their second preseason game on Saturday against the Washington Commanders.
The matchup is scheduled to kick off at 7pm ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
