The Miami Dolphins are starting quarterback Skylar Thompson for their Wild Card matchup vs. the Buffalo Bills. Here’s everything to know about Thompson.
The Miami Dolphins made the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2016 by way of clinching the final Wild Card spot in the AFC. With the No. 7 seed, the Dolphins are set to take the Buffalo Bills in the opening round of the postseason. It was a season in which Miami’s front office bought in to provide help to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, bringing in the likes of wide receiver Tyreek Hill, left tackle Terron Armstead, and running back Jeff Wilson.
Even though Tagovailoa played his best season in the NFL, he didn’t get the start in the Wild Card round due in part to a concussion. With that, the Dolphins gave seventh-round draft pick Skylar Thompson the start in Orchard Park.
Here’s everything you need to know about Thompson.
What college did Skylar Thompson go to?
Thompson played for the Kansas State Wildcats football program for five seasons. After playing just three games due to an injury in 2020, Thompson returned for the 2021 campaign. In 10 games last season, he completed 69.5-percent of his passes for 2,103 yards and 12 touchdowns, while throwing four interceptions.
In his five seasons, Thompson recorded 7,124 yards, 42 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions while owning a 62.4 completion percentage. The quarterback also ran for 1,087 yards and 26 touchdowns on 355 carries.
How old is Skylar Thompson?
Thompson is 25-years-old.
How did Skylar Thompson make the Dolphins roster?
Miami used the 247th-overall pick on Thompson in the seventh-round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He was the second-to-last quarterback selected in that draft, with Brock Purdy being the final pick of the event, going to the San Francisco 49ers.
Thompson shined in the preseason. He threw for 218 yards and one touchdown (20-of-28) in the team’s preseason opening win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thompson completed all but one of his 10 pass attempts for 129 yards and a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders. In the preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles, Thompson threw for 103 yards and three touchdowns while completing 7-of-10 throws.
After this, Thompson made the team’s 53-man roster out of training camp.
How did Skylar Thompson get starting job in the 2023 NFL playoffs?
Thompson got the start in the playoffs due to injuries to both Tagovailoa and backup Teddy Bridgewater. Tagovailoa has been sidelined ever since dealing with a concussion suffered in Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers. As for Bridgewater, he suffered a dislocated pinky in Week 17 against the New England Patriots.
While Bridgewater was activated for the Wild Card game against the Bills, Thompson received the start.
Why does Skylar Thomson write “JWT” and “MOM” on his cleats?
Viewers may notice that Thompson has “MOM” and “JWT” written on his cleats.
“MOM” is in honor of his mother, Theresa, who passed away from stage-four breast cancer in 2004 when he was six-years-old, just after Mother’s Day.
“JWT” is in honor of his grandfather, John Walter Thompson, who passed away from pancreatic cancer seven months earlier.
Thompson wrote about dealing with the loss of his mother and grandfather for Kansas State Sports’ official website back in 2009. You can read it at this link.