Solving QB uncertainties will take time

And if Rosen doesn’t pan out, next move likely is ’20 draft

With the 2019 NFL season fast approaching, the South Florida Sun Sentinel takes a look at 10 storylines to watch for in a 10-part series ahead of the Miami Dolphins’ first day of training camp on Thursday, July 25.

The biggest challenge the Miami Dolphins have faced in the past two decades — outside of the fact they made only three playoff appearances in that span — has been their dire need for a franchise quarterback.

Since Hall of Famer Dan Marino retired in 2000, 19 players have started a game at quarterback for the Dolphins.

Longtime NFL veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick and developing second-year quarterback Josh Rosen will likely become the 20th and 21st players to do so during the 2019 season.

As the Dolphins navigate their rebuild under new coach Brian Flores and general manager Chris Grier, Miami’s approach to answering its quarterback issue appears clear:

Fitzpatrick, entering his 15th season, will serve a major role of being a bridge to the starter of the future.

Rosen, joining his second team in as many years in the NFL, will essentially

have a one-year tryout to show he is capable of filling the Dolphins’ void.

And if Fitzpatrick and Rosen do not ultimately pan out, the Dolphins will be forced to address the position in the 2020 NFL draft.

Miami traded away former starter Ryan Tannehill in March after seven seasons, ending an era of the franchise that yielded years of subpar play and only one playoff appearance.

Fitzpatrick, after spending the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was signed to a two-year, $11 million deal ($7 million guaranteed) this offseason to bring a veteran savvy to the position while serving as a stopgap after Tannehill.

Instead of drafting a rookie, the Dolphins traded for Rosen during the second day of the 2019 NFL draft after his former team, the Arizona Cardinals, selected quarterback Kyler Murray at No. 1.

Rosen faces an uphill battle in the Dolphins’ competition since Fitzpatrick has already shown his NFL experience by having a better grasp of the new scheme during offseason workouts this spring and summer.

Although Rosen has a chance to compete with Fitzpatrick for the starting job during training camp, the Dolphins will eventually have to evaluate Rosen’s potential this season outside of practice. When the Dolphins will do so, however, remains to be seen.

Miami will start the first month of the season — which begins with a home opener against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 8 — against four teams that made the playoffs a year ago. That stretch could serve as a drastic barometer as to how the Dolphins will perform this season.

It could also serve as a major teaching point for a quarterback such as Rosen, who could take some early lumps with his new team while figuring out how to improve with some live-game action.

However, the Dolphins could choose to give Rosen more time to develop, relegating him to backup duties if they feel Fitzpatrick is the better option to start the season.

If Rosen is not ready following Miami’s Week 5 bye, Fitzpatrick could continue to lead the offense before the Dolphins feel the need to play and evaluate Rosen in live action. This scenario does not account for injuries or any additions to the Dolphins roster.

With Rosen, the Dolphins have a player they need to fully evaluate to determine whether they need to go another route at their quarterback position.

Players such as Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon’s Justin Herbert and Georgia’s Jake Fromm are among the most coveted quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL draft, and could be in play for the Dolphins depending on how draft position pans out.

While the Dolphins’ glaring need for a franchise quarterback still persists, they have a clear-cut plan in place to address the situation during the 2019 season.

Training camp schedule

Thursday, July 25: 9:40 a.m.; Friday, July 26: 9:40 a.m.; Saturday, July 27: 9:40 a.m.; Sunday, July 28: 9:40 a.m.; Tuesday, July 30: 10:30 a.m.; Wednesday, July 31: 9:40 a.m.; Thursday, August 1: 9:40 a.m.; Friday, August 2: 9:40 a.m.; Saturday, Aug. 3 (scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium): 1 p.m.; Monday, August 5: 10:30 a.m.; Tuesday, August 6: 9:40 a.m.

* Tickets for Miami’s 10 open practices are free, but limited to 2,000 per day. Fans can reserve tickets by registering at Dolphins.com/TrainingCamp.