With Teddy Bridgewater in concussion protocol, Dolphins turned to Skylar Thompson vs Jets

Skylar Thompson called it a “jarring situation.”

The rookie quarterback, a seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins out of Kansas State, watched as Teddy Bridgewater went down with an injury on his first play from scrimmage Sunday against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium and headed to the locker room with an unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant. Bridgewater ultimately was placed in concussion protocol.

In the span of 10 days, Thompson had gone from the Dolphins’ emergency quarterback, No. 3 on the depth chart, to leading the offense.

The results of his NFL debut were shaky in the 40-17 loss, Miami’s second consecutive defeat. Thompson completed 19 of 33 pass attempts for 166 yards, threw an interception, was sacked twice and lost a fumble.

Thompson said it took him “a little bit to settle in” after replacing Bridgewater but also understands where he can improve if he ends up getting another chance on the field.

“I knew it wasn’t going to be perfect right off the bat,” Thompson said, “but I definitely felt like there were times where it felt like it was slowing down. I was able to see the defense and see what’s going on, be able to make different reads, put the ball where I wanted it to, but there’s a lot there [to improve].”

Bridgewater went to the injury tent and then the locker room after being hit on his first pass attempt in the first quarter, a play that was ruled intentional grounding and a safety with Bridgewater throwing from the end zone.

Bridgewater passed his concussion evaluation and coach Mike McDaniel said he hasn’t exhibited any symptoms of a concussion.

But the quarterback was ruled out due to an alteration of the league’s concussion protocol that was agreed upon Saturday by the NFL and NFL Players Association and came in response to Dolphins starter Tua Tagovailoa’s concussion check on Sept. 25 against the Buffalo Bills. The league and union released the findings of its review into Tagoviloa’s concussion check, concluding that the protocol was followed by the team physician and consultant but “the outcome in this case was not what was intended when the Protocol was drafted.”

The adjusted protocol adds the term “ataxia” to the list of no-go symptoms that bar a player suspected of a concussion from reentering the game. This change took effect starting Sunday.

If a player is diagnosed with ataxia — abnormality of balance/stability, motor coordination or dysfunctional speech caused by a neurological issue — he is prohibited from returning to the game. Ataxia replaces the gross motor instability no-go symptom; a player could return to a game if the team physician and consultant concluded that the instability was not the result of a neurological issue.

Because the ATC spotter, an independent certified athletic trainer whose job is to identify players who may potentially be injured, at the game believed Teddy stumbled, he was ruled out.

With Bridgewater in concussion protocol, he will need to go through all steps, including clearance by an independent neurologist, before he can play again.

“I’m happy that there’s some policy that the medical experts deem is more safe for the players collectively,” McDaniel said of the amended concussion protocol. “That’s a positive thing. As far as the determination that things were followed appropriately, that didn’t surprise me. I’ve been saying that from the beginning.”

So in entered Thompson, who impressed during training camp and the preseason but was expected to be Miami’s emergency No. 3 quarterback this season.

Thompson said earlier this week that he understood his role this season was to “find ways to improve and develop and not let this time get wasted.

“For me to be in position to sit back and learn and see things from perspective where I’m not the starter is going to be very beneficial for me in helping me understand what is game routine look like, what preparation looks like,” Thompson said.

But the 25-year-old also said his goal was to eventually be a starter.

“I’m not going to shortchange myself and where I want to get to someday,” he said.

Thompson moved to No. 2 on the depth chart entering the week with Tagovailoa in concussion protocol and found himself thrust into the starting role on the Dolphins’ second offensive play from scrimmage on Sunday.

Miami punted on the first two drives with Thompson at quarterback before scoring on three of its next four possessions to get within two points, 19-17, of the Jets before New York scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to seal the win.

“The whole team has confidence in Skylar,” McDaniel said. “Our whole team in general doesn’t look at it like we’re a one-man savior at any spot. It’s a new set of circumstances of adversity so early, but I didn’t think that the rest of the team’s response to losing Teddy had anything to do with losing the game.”

Thompson, meanwhile, remains confident in his ability.

“You’ve got to start somewhere,” Thompson said. “Didn’t play well enough today and that obviously starts with me. There’s a lot to learn from and grow from, which is the exciting part from my end.”