Fitzpatrick to start for Miami vs. Bills
DAVIE, Fla. – The winless Miami Dolphins have again changed starting quarterbacks because coach Brian Flores changed his mind.
Ryan Fitzpatrick will make his first start since Week 2 when the Dolphins play at Buffalo on Sunday. Flores had previously said Josh Rosen would remain the starter after Fitzpatrick came off the bench and nearly rallied Miami to its first victory last Sunday against Washington.
“We moved the ball better with Ryan in the game, and I think we need to stay with that,” Flores said Wednesday. “Came to that conclusion over the last couple of days. We feel that was the best thing for this team, and it’ll give us the best opportunity for this team to go up into a tough environment and try to pull out a win.”
The Dolphins (0-5) are 17-point underdogs against the Bills (4-1).
“I’m excited,” said Fitzpatrick, 36, who played for the Bills in 2009-12. “I just enjoy playing football. I like being out there. It’s a lot more fun for me to be out there and playing. Preparation is a lot more fun when you’re the guy, so I’ll be lot happier day to day knowing I’ll be out there.”
Fitzpatrick started the first two games of the season, and Rosen started the past three. Rosen had perhaps his worst game of the year Sunday and was benched at the start of the fourth quarter with Miami trailing 17-3.
Fitzpatrick led the Dolphins to two late touchdowns, doubling their season total, but they failed to convert a twopoint try in the final seconds and lost 1716.
With the frantic rally, the inconsistent but sometimes dynamic veteran lived up to his nickname of Fitzmagic.
“Historically there have been times in my career, whatever team it has been on, that we have gotten on a little bit of a roll,” the 15-year veteran said. “That momentum is a fun feeling. Hopefully there’s a lot more of that to come.”
Rosen acknowledged he played badly and had no quarrel with being demoted.
“I’m bummed out, but if coach wants to make the decision, it’s his decision to make,” Rosen said. “I wish I would have made it a little tougher on him. But it’s a long season. I’m going to continue to push Fitz and be there for him, like he was there for me.”
The decision undercuts this week’s criticism that the Dolphins were sticking with Rosen because they’re intent on finishing with the NFL’S worst record to secure the No. 1 draft pick. Rosen’s demotion also underscores the likelihood Miami will use its top pick next year to take a QB.
Rosen ranks last among qualifying quarterbacks in passer rating, completion percentage and yards per attempt, and the second-year pro is 3-13 as a starter.
“For him it’s got to be day-to-day improvement,” Flores said. “That was the conversation I had with him. He’s still a young, talented player, and there’s still a lot of room for development with him, and we’ll continue to develop him in practice.”