Miami Dolphins: Skylar Thompson ‘fearless’ as he fills Tua Tagovailoa’s role at Seattle
MIAMI GARDENS — There was a very fleeting moment where Skylar Thompson thought about if he should bypass a sixth season at Kansas State and shift his career focus toward coaching.
“Brief,” Thompson said with a smile in the Miami Dolphins’ locker room this week. “Very brief.” Thompson had sustained a serious injury to the pectoral muscle, connected to his throwing shoulder.
“Skylar wanted to go out on top,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman was saying this week, from Manhattan, Kansas. “That’s why I was so excited he got to play in that Texas Bowl at LSU. He played as if that were the Super Bowl.”
If Thompson had not played that sixth season at Kansas State, there’s no way he would have been a seventh-round pick of the Dolphins and in line to start at least the next four games.
If Thompson had not shined in the 45th and final game of his college career, a defeat of LSU at the Texas Bowl – he passed for 259 yards and three touchdowns – he might not have been in this position, either
“Skylar’s a flat winner,” said Klieman, who stays in touch with Thompson. “When adversity sometimes is at the highest is when I think he performs the best.”
The role of backup quarterback in the NFL inherently comes with adversity.
Dolphins coaches and players have expressed confidence all week that Thompson can make a positive impact in Sunday’s game at the Seattle Seahawks (4 p.m. Eastern).
“He plays with a lot of swag,” said receiver Jaylen Waddle.
“Fearless,” said receiver Tyreek Hill.
“His fight, his grit,” said left tackle Terron Armstead. “He got something about him.”
‘Fearless.’ ‘Swag.’ ‘Grit.’ – Dolphins on Skylar Thompson
Thompson, 27, clearly beat out veteran Mike White, 29, for the role of backup to Tua Tagovailoa this spring and summer. It’s Thompson’s third year in Mike McDaniel’s offense and the growth is evident. “There is a broader chest in the huddle,” McDaniel said of Thompson. “There’s more conviction.”
This week, McDaniel brought up Trey Lance. It’s an interesting comparison to Thompson, putting aside that Lance’s NFL career has yet to work out. Lance was an incredible college player at North Dakota State, where he was coached by Klieman. And McDaniel was a part of the 49ers staff when Lance was drafted. Thompson and Lance both have strong arms.
In fact, Thompson said that after pectoral surgery, his arm actually become stronger. It’s sort of like those baseball pitchers who throw harder after a Tommy John surgery. And Thompson and Lance can both beat you on scrambles. Could we see some Dolphins zone read?