Josh Rosen at peace with Dolphins drafting Tua Tagovailoa: 'It is what it is'
Miami Dolphins backup quarterback Josh Rosen is in danger of slipping down a rung on the Dolphins’ QB depth chart this season. He’s already in the backup position since Ryan Fitzpatrick was named starter, but his position is even less secure due to Tua Tagovailoa, who the Dolphins drafted No. 3 overall back in April.
Tagovailoa is Miami’s quarterback of the future, and that means Rosen’s future is likely somewhere else if he wants to be a starter. But while Tua recovers from a hip injury and subsequent surgery, the Dolphins are expected to take it slow with him. That means there could be a battle brewing for the primary backup spot behind Fitzpatrick, a position Rosen probably didn’t think he’d have to fight for six months ago.
Rosen sanguine despite struggles
When Rosen was asked on Tuesday to discuss his feelings about the Dolphins drafting Tagovailoa, he kept it simple.
Josh Rosen on Dolphins drafting Tua: “It is what it is.”
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) August 25, 2020
Rosen didn’t stop there, though. He gave some insight into how he’s approaching this season while knowing that the Dolphins’ quarterback of the future isn’t him.
“I just have to come out and try as hard as I can and compete as hard as I can every day. Hopefully get the nod at some point in the future. Right now, I’m just focusing on improving every day. Fitz is a great guy to learn from. I’m sort of trying to continue that progress I had near the end of last year.”
Gotta give it to Josh Rosen. An incredibly positive spirit/introspective mindset in his situation.
“I’m not really focused as much on winning a job as getting better.”
Rosen hopeful he gets a 3rd chance. “Whenever that opportunity comes, wherever that comes I want to be ready.”— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 25, 2020
Josh Rosen pointed out he hasn't played well in his two shots to be an NFL starter, and his focus is on making sure when that third one comes he's ready.
Takes a big man to admit that.— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 25, 2020
It seems that Rosen’s key to this season is to focus on what he can control, like how hard he works and what his expectations are. He’s right that his previous two attempts at playing in the NFL as a starter didn’t go well. After going 3-10 as a starter for the 2018 Arizona Cardinals, Rosen was traded to Miami when the Cardinals decided to take QB Kyler Murray as the No. 1 overall pick — the No. 1 overall pick that Rosen “helped” them get. Rosen proceeded to have a dismal 2019 for the Dolphins as Fitzpatrick’s backup, losing all three games he started.
Rosen can’t change the past, so he’s doing the only thing he can: preparing for the future. He doesn’t know if he’ll end up being Tua’s backup, or someone else’s backup, or even a starter again. But he’s got the right attitude for whatever comes next.
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