After the preseason finale, Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores named Ryan Fitzpatrick as his starting quarterback.
The rookie head coach explained his decision in Thursday's postgame press conference.
“After thorough evaluation, OTAs, training camp, games, practice, we felt like this was the best move for our team going into the season. Ryan has done a really good job from a leadership standpoint, from an execution standpoint, and we feel like that's the best thing for this team.
“I would say the conversations that we have as a staff and the decisions we make, those were internal. It was made over the course of the last week or so. Again, we also feel we are going to do in what is the best interest of this organization and that's where we are at right now.”
Fitzpatrick, 36, won the starting job over Josh Rosen. The Dolphins signed the veteran to a two-year contract in free agency after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They traded a second-round pick to acquire Rosen during the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the No. 10 selection by the Arizona Cardinals in 2018.
Neither Fitzpatrick nor Rosen played in the preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints.
Each played three preseason games, with Fitzpatrick starting two. Rosen went 28-of-45 (62.2 percent completion rate) for 352 yards no touchdowns and an interception, posting a 77.3 passer rating. Fitzpatrick, on the other hand, went 17-of-32 passing for 166 yards and a 78.4 passer rating.
The Dolphins appear to be favoring Fitzpatrick's experience as they develop Rosen behind him.
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