Miami Dolphins QB Tyler Huntley is trying to maximize his time as a starter

The Miami Dolphins are preparing for their upcoming game against the Indianapolis Colts and quarterback Tyler Huntley is one of the players they hope will benefit significantly from the recent week of release.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains on injured reserve following a concussion he suffered on September 12 against the Buffalo Bills. Still, he is eligible to begin practice on Oct. 23 and play in the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Hard Rock Stadium four days later.

In the meantime, Miami hopes Huntley used this opportunity and the team’s bye week to deepen his understanding of the Dolphins’ offense, a crucial step for a player who joined the team weeks ago.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel expressed confidence in Huntley’s progress.

“For a guy like Tyler, the copy-paste norm of what a bye week would look like was a little different,” he said. “It was essential that he had more time to work to study some of our core concepts and fundamentals and review the fundamentals, which he did an excellent job of going through.”

Huntley’s journey was challenging.

In his second start, he completed 18 of 31 passes for 194 yards, more than doubling the 96 yards he recorded in Week 4, although he did throw an interception without a touchdown in Miami’s 15-10 win over the New England Patriots.

In his last two games, Huntley threw for 290 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Miami ranks 21st in yards allowed through five games this season and is averaging a league-worst 12.3 points per game.

According to NextGen Stats, Dolphins receivers have managed to get open and create three or more yards of separation on 54.5% of their routes this season. However, the team produced 151 fewer receiving yards than expected, fourth-worst in the NFL.

This suggests a lack of chemistry with the quarterback, which is understandable given Huntley’s limited time on offense.

McDaniel noted that the bye week was an opportunity for Huntley to really get into the intricacies of the offense, stating, “I promise you, you have to be a very, very well-oiled professional to run the offense like that.” command as he does.”

“Five days felt like an eternity for him given the way he had to catch up,” McDaniel added. “So much goes into an NFL game for a player to have confidence and belief in what’s happening.”

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle also praised Huntley’s adaptability and noted his rapid progress.

“Because he was only here for a short time, he really started learning the offense and getting to know new receivers and other players,” Waddle said. “So it’s tough coming in and then we played some really good teams while he was here. He’s doing a good job, man, he’s doing a great job.”

Huntley reached out to Waddle during the break week and asked him to come back early for additional throwing sessions.

“He told me to come back a little early so we could throw earlier,” Waddle said. “So “Snoop” I’ll try to get this work in.

As the Dolphins prepare to play the Colts, McDaniel’s confidence in Huntley is evident, as last week McDaniel announced that he would remain his starting quarterback for now even if Skylar Thompson fully recovered from his rib injury.

“He’s improved every week of work we’ve had,” he said. “I’m happy for him because so much is lost in an NFL game for a player to have confidence and conviction in what’s happening.”

The Colts defense has struggled this season, ranking 30th in total yards allowed, which could give Huntley a golden opportunity to showcase his growth.

McDaniel acknowledged the unique challenges of preparing for an opponent with quarterback uncertainties of their own, especially given the resurgence of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who led the Colts to a 20-17 win over the Tennessee Titans in Week 5.

“It makes it difficult to make decisions that you absolutely believe are the best things for this player or players in this game,” McDaniel said. “But we’re quick studies here, and I’ve been going through the process to expedite that.”

Huntley’s progress during the bye week could be the difference for the Dolphins against the Colts in what could be his final start as the Dolphins look to maintain their momentum in the AFC playoff race.