Miami Dolphins Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has been benched after being eliminated from the playoff race.

Miami fell to 6-8 on the season 28-15 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.

Tagovailoa’s performance has been criticized, with the Dolphins receiving little return on their investment in Tagovailoa’s services last year when they gave him a four-year, $212.4 million contract extension.

And, with nothing in their remaining games, the Dolphins have turned the keys of the offense over to backup Quinn Evers.

Dolphins bench move: What does it mean for the QB’s future?

Tagovailoa’s benching will raise questions about his long-term future with the Dolphins.

Yet this Financial matters of his contract That means he will stay with Miami through at least the 2026 season.

If they release Tagovailoa this offseason, the Dolphins will take on an NFL-record $90m in dead money. Any team willing to acquire him in a trade can guarantee him $54m in 2026.

The Dolphins can opt out of Tagovailoa’s contract in 2027, when they would be able to designate him a post-June 1 release and save $40m against the cap while taking on $13m in dead money.

If the Dolphins, projected to pick 11th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, bring in competition by adding a top QB prospect or signing a potential starter in free agency this offseason, the writing will be on the wall for the fifth overall pick in 2020.

Ewers, a seventh-round rookie out of Texas, will get a chance to impress on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. More daunting tests against the playoff-bound New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers follow.