Team to cut Rosen after failing to find trade partner
Josh Rosen’s time with the Miami Dolphins has come to an unceremonious end.
The Dolphins intend to release Rosen, the former No. 10 overall pick in 2018, after three starts in one season with the team and attempts to unload him in the trade market.
Now, the Dolphins could find themselves in a compromising scenario without Rosen in the mix.
Is rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa —10 months removed from his gruesome hip injury — ready for live NFL action as early as Week 1? It would appear so.
If anything injury- or COVID-19-related happens to 16-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick with Rosen released, the Dolphins could face a situation where Tagovailoa may have to make his NFL debut earlier than anticipated.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who acknowledged Friday that the team’s front office had been fielding calls for Rosen, said no decisions have been made on Tagovailoa’s availability for the season opener against the New England Patriots on Sept. 13 in Foxborough. Earlier this week, Flores said biding more time for Tagovailoa as a precaution is “definitely part of the conversation.”
“As far as Tua, no decisions have been made,” Flores said. “We’re going to go out and practice [Friday], and make the decisions on the roster [Saturday]. But yeah, we’re fielding calls on a handful of players, and I think every team is doing the same thing.
“Josh has competed. Josh has made some good throws. I think he’s gotten better through the course of training camp, and that’s
where we are with him.”
Rosen’s acquisition was one of the first major decisions made by Flores and Dolphins general manager Chris Grier during the start of their extensive rebuilding process.
Unfortunately for the Dolphins, they were unable to find a willing trade partner to land anything in return for Rosen, who was acquired for a second- and fifth-round pick during the second day of the 2019 NFL draft.
“As far the rumors about Josh, I think it’s the day before cut-down day and I think there are a lot of names being floated around. We’re fielding calls left and right, or I know Chris [Grier] is, about Josh and probably about a handful of players. And I think that’s the case around the league,” Flores said on Friday
Rosen had the strongest and liveliest arm of any Dolphins quarterback, but accuracy issues, poor decision
making and holding onto the football too long resulted in his descent behind Fitzpatrick, the team’s expected starter, and Tagovailoa on the Dolphins’ depth chart.
Most of Rosen’s action during 11-on-11 settings in training camp came when Fitzpatrick missed practice on two occasions to tend to his mother Lori, who died on Aug. 29. On the same day, Rosen barely outdueled Tagovailoa during the Dolphins’ scrimmage at Hard
Rock Stadium, throwing the only touchdown of the day while nearly tossing three interceptions.
Luckily for Rosen, two interceptions were negated due to penalties by the defense. Tagovailoa had one interception during the scrimmage.
Rosen, who started three games for the Dolphins last season before being benched, said last month he has found peace in trying to develop by learning from Fitzpatrick and new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey for whenever or wherever his next opportunity comes.
“I’m going to stay ready. I hope I can one day play here, and I’m ready to seize my opportunity, but I’m not really focusing on all that much right now,” Rosen said lightheartedly after the scrimmage. “I’m just trying to not throw picks in a scrimmage.”
Rosen started 16 games in two seasons during his NFL career, throwing for 2,845 yards with 12 touchdowns and 19 interceptions and a 54.8 completion percentage
But the Dolphins’ consideration of making Rosen expendable could be a strong indication the team feels Tagovailoa has fully recovered from the hip injury and is more than ready for game action.
“That is definitely part of the conversation, for sure,” Flores said of Tagovailoa’s recovery process regarding his availability early this season.
“I think we’re at 10 months. It was a pretty serious injury…. He looks good. He looks healthy. He’s moving around to his right, to his left. But yes, that’s part of the conversation.
“Look, he’s a great kid.. I care about him. I want what’s best for him and that’s definitely part of the conversation.”