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For a fourth consecutive game, the Miami Dolphins had a starting quarterback make an early exit.
Rookie third-string quarterback Skylar Thompson was escorted into the locker room by a trainer in the second quarter of the Dolphins’ game against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Thompson took a hit from Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks on a third-down pass that caused him to injure the thumb on his right, throwing hand.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater entered for Thompson, who is questionable to return.
Bridgewater and starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had to clear concussion protocol this week, and both were cleared on Saturday.
With Tagovailoa returning from a serious concussion sustained on Sept. 29 in the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Mike McDaniel decided to keep him inactive for Sunday. Bridgewater, who had to clear protocol without ever being diagnosed with a concussion because he was ruled out of last week’s loss at the New York Jets due to a stumble, was kept available by McDaniel for backup duties. McDaniel attributed starting Thompson over Bridgewater to having the full week of practice.
Before Bridgewater’s exit on Oct. 9 at the Jets and Tagovailoa on the Thursday night against the Bengals, Tagovailoa also left the Sept. 25 home win over the Buffalo Bills momentarily. His controversial clearance to return in the second half was what sparked enhanced protocols by the NFL and Players Association that resulted in Bridgewater’s disqualification after one offensive play at New York.
Thompson was 7 of 13 for 89 yards at the time of his departure. With Bridgewater at quarterback, Miami broke a scoreless tie with Minnesota in the middle of the second period. A 44-yard field goal from Jason Sanders put the Dolphins ahead, 3-0.
Thompson had impressive moments early, but the Dolphins could not come up with points on their first two drives. First, a sack knocked them out of field-goal range. On the second possession, multiple big plays were wiped away by penalties. Two holding calls, an ineligible man downfield, an offensive pass interference and a false start accounted for five penalties for 36 yards on the series.
Miami came close to scoring defensively in the first quarter. Edge defender Trey Flowers hit Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins in the end zone, but Cousins just got an incomplete pass off with his body nearly horizontal.
The Dolphins stay at home next week for a Sunday night meeting with the Steelers where ex-coach Brian Flores returns to Hard Rock Stadium as Pittsburgh defensive analyst and the undefeated 1972 team will be honored.
This story will be updated.
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