Jaylen Waddle reacts to Dolphins benching Tua Tagovailoa in favor of Quinn Ewers

Ever since the Miami Dolphins made wide receiver Jaylen Waddle the sixth overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, a healthy Tua Tagovailoa had served as Miami's first-choice starting quarterback. 

However, that changed when Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel benched Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers days after 6-8 Miami was eliminated from playoff contention. On Thursday, Waddle addressed what seems to be the beginning of the end of an era for the Dolphins. 

Tua Tagovailoa benching "kind of the nature of the business"

"It’s kind of the nature of the business," Waddle said, per Brigid Kennedy of Sports Illustrated. "Especially when we didn’t play as we should [have] this season. I mean, it's the nature of the business. Any time the team’s not having success, change is made. A couple of weeks ago, s---, I was on the chopping block. So, I mean, that’s just the nature of the business."

2021 first-round draft pick Zach Wilson had been Tagovailoa's primary backup through the majority of the season, and Wilson will be Miami's QB2 when the club hosts the 4-10 Cincinnati Bengals this coming Sunday. As for Tagovailoa, there's a realistic chance that he will never again take an in-game snap for the Dolphins. 

On Thursday, Waddle revealed that he had a "regular convo" with Tagovailoa about the benching. 

"Tua’s a competitor, and he loves this team," Waddle continued. "He loves going out there and competing with his guys, and I think he’s going to do what's necessary to make sure everyone’s prepared. Quinn, receivers, [Tagovailoa has] still got this leadership role of the team."

De’Von Achane knows Dolphins have a job to do after Tua Tagovailoa, Quinn Ewers call

Meanwhile, Dolphins running back De’Von Achane suggested that he didn't have a significant "reaction" to learning that Tagovailoa had been relegated to QB3 duties. 

"Tua’s my brother, so ... obviously, you know, talk to him and see where his head’s at," Achane added. "But same time, you gotta game to play." 

As of Friday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the Dolphins as 4.5-point underdogs against the Bengals. It remains to be seen if Ewers will play well enough versus Cincinnati to start when the Dolphins host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 17.