Dolphins cut Mike White as Skylar Thompson wins QB2 job - ESPN

MIAMI — The Dolphins released quarterback Mike White on Sunday, ending a monthslong position battle with Skylar Thompson for the backup job behind Tua Tagovailoa.

White, 29, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with Miami last offseason and operated as the Dolphins' backup quarterback throughout the 2023 season. He saw action in six games, completing 5 of 6 passes for 74 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

He split reps with Thompson, 27, throughout the Dolphins' offseason program this year, however, as coach Mike McDaniel looked to settle the position via a series of stress tests in practice.

«The approach that I've kind of taken is to create super difficult situations for both of them… because what are we really trying to evaluate?» McDaniel said. «We're trying to evaluate who's best to serve handling a difficult situation. Inherent in being a backup quarterback is that you are in a difficult situation, whether that's in game or starting a game. So, we thought it was most appropriate to do that, and how that's presented itself in practice is I've gotten a ton of information.… It's quite literally handling difficult situations and saying, 'Hey, you have to go do this. I'm going to call this play, probably against a non-premier coverage. And let's see what you do.'

»… I'm looking for nuances, resolve, the conviction after a bad play happens, how the offense is coming to the line of scrimmage, how you're leading them, all sorts of different things on top of what I've already learned about them."

White completed 20 of 43 passes this preseason for 179 yards. Thompson completed 35 of 61 passes for 379 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.

Releasing White saves the Dolphins $3.5 million against the salary