Flores backing veteran QB
Coach prefers to stick with Fitzpatrick over Rosen as starter down the stretch
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins are 2-8 with six games remaining, and coach Brian Flores would prefer 15-year veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick remain as the starting quarterback over second-year back Josh Rosen the rest of the season.
Flores said Wednesday that Fitzpatrick will start Miami’s Week 12 matchup on the road against the Cleveland Browns.
But will Rosen have an opportunity to start again in the final six games of the season?
“I don’t have a crystal ball so anything can happen from that standpoint,” Flores said when asked when the question.
“Fitz has done a good job. Rosen is obviously developing in practice. I know you guys (the media) don’t see that, but he’s definitely making some strides. To sit here and say it would be one guy the whole way, I’ve done that before and I was wrong then. You just never know.”
Rosen has played in seven games this season, starting in three straight games — during Week 3, 4 and 6 — before losing the job in his final start against the Washington Redskins. Fitzpatrick led a fourth-quarter comeback that fell short after a failed twopoint conversion ended that game in a 17-16 loss.
Out of the Dolphins’ eight losses this season, the Redskins game was the only one to a team with a worst record than Miami.
While Flores previously said Rosen would hang onto the Dolphins’ starting job, Flores quickly rewarded Fitzpatrick with the opportunity to be Miami’s starter again after holding the job in Weeks 1 and 2.
That’s the reason Flores has been cautious in making decrees on his starting quarterback position during his first season as Dolphins coach.
With six games left, however, it does not appear that Flores has any inclination to start Rosen again this season.
If not against the Browns (4-6) or Philadelphia Eagles (5-5) at home next week, Flores and the Dolphins could give Rosen an opportunity to play against the underachieving the New York Jets (2-8) on Dec. 8, New York Giants (2-8) on Dec. 15 and/or Cincinnati Bengals (0-10) on Dec. 22.
The Dolphins finish this season on the road against the New England Patriots (9-1) on Dec. 29.
Flores could make determinations on whether Rosen will play in those games when they come.
“Josh just needs to try to improve every day, try to get better on a daily basis, and improve on his timing, getting the ball out quickly, game management and just overall,” Flores said of Rosen. “He is improving and we’ll see how it goes.”
Flores had previously said he felt the Dolphins had an adequate evaluation of Rosen — the former No. 10 pick in 2018 who was acquired from the Arizona Cardinals in an April trade — after the offseason workouts, training camp and just three starts.
Since being benched, Rosen says he has improved his knowledge of the Dolphins offense in a variety of ways. One in particular is watching from the sidelines while anticipating where he thinks the football should go on certain plays Fitzpatrick is dropping back to throw.
“I think I’ve become a bit of a better pro when it comes to studying and preparation,” Rosen said. “I’ve kinda been shadowing Fitz during the last couple of weeks and just trying to get to know the depths of the game.”
Since losing the starting job, Rosen has appeared briefly against the Jets in Week 9 when Miami’s first victory was in hand, and the Colts in Week 10 when the Dolphins found themselves in a peculiar situation in the fourth quarter.
Rosen entered the Colts game for a series, with the Dolphins clinging to a 13-12 lead, when it was determined Fitzpatrick needed to undergo a concussion evaluation by doctors on the sidelines after a helmetto-helmet hit on the previous drive.
The Dolphins called three straight run plays with Rosen under center and settled for a 48-yard field goal by Jason Sanders to take a 16-12 lead they were able to hang onto for their second straight victory.
“I get to sit back and reassess. I get to root [the] team on, stay ready, push the defense, work hard on scout and get ready for my next opportunity,” Rosen said. When will that come?
“I don’t know. That’s not really up to me,” Rosen said. “But when it does come, I’ll be ready.”
Flores believes Fitzpatrick gives the Dolphins their best chance to win, which proved to be true in two straight victories against the Jets and Colts earlier this month.
Flores said after the Colts win that Fitzpatrick would remain as Miami’s starter “for the foreseeable future.”
Fitzpatrick has played in nine of Miami’s 10 games with seven starts, including five consecutive starts since winning the job again.
“He’s tough. He’s a leader. Guys rally around him. He loves to play. He loves to practice,” said Flores, 38, of Fitzpatrick, whose 37th birthday is on Sunday.
“Whether you’re a young coach or an old coach, you want to see that from every player whether he’s a younger player or older player. That leadership by example to a young team is something that is valuable.”
Fitzpatrick, a limited participant in practice Wednesday to rest his right shoulder and forearm, continues to cherish his opportunity to start for an NFL team at this stage in his career.
Even after being hit a season-high 14 times against the Bills last Sunday, including seven sacks.
And Fitzpatrick believes he and his body have what it takes to play in the final six games and finish this season.
“There’s just some years for whatever reason you get bumps and bruises and stuff lingers all year on, and there are other years where you’re getting hit a bunch and nothing really lingers. That’s kinda where I’m at right now,” Fitzpatrick said. “I feel really good, body-wise and everything else. I’ve been lucky this year in that regard because I don’t know if there’s any rhyme or reason to it. I feel as healthy as can be.”