What a few weeks ago was a burning question _ who will start at quarterback for the Miami Dolphins _ is now little more than a quaint curiosity.
The team's one-time burning question sits under all the rubble of the first two weeks, when the woeful Dolphins were outscored, 102-10, traded two of their best players, and signed 13 players off the discard pile of other teams.
Who's starting at quarterback Sunday against Dallas? Who really cares?
So the news Thursday, that former UCLA standout Josh Rosen will replace Ryan Fitzpatrick, was met with collective shrug in Miami and beyond. The Dolphins didn't even make Rosen available for comment, announcing the decision after player availability for the day.
As it was, Rosen turned down all one-on-one interview requests this summer. Surely, the team saw the storm clouds gathering, perhaps figuring it wouldn't do the franchise any good to have the often-too-candid Rosen the chance to speak his mind.
Regardless, he's the starting quarterback now. He came off the bench against New England last Sunday and completed seven of 18 passes for 97 yards, with an interception. Two of those incompletions were drops.
"I just wanted to go in and provide some kind of positive for us," Rosen said after the game. "They put me out there to try and throw touchdowns, so that's what I tried to do. It's all a learning experience. I threw some good ones and some bad ones."
Considering the spate of quarterback injuries around the league, the Dolphins might be looking to trade Fitzpatrick, and probably could get decent value for him. What's the point of risking him further in a season already down the tubes?
Plus, it's good to know what they have in Rosen, although there has been no indication that he's the franchise quarterback the Dolphins were seeking since the 2018 first-round pick was acquired from the Arizona Cardinals.
Actually, this is a great opportunity for Rosen, because nobody is expecting anything. He's playing on house money. If the Cowboys blow them out, well, everybody was anticipating that.
If Rosen were to have a good game _ especially playing behind that disaster of an offensive line _ that would be something of a surprise.
"This could be one of those deals where, 'Hey, let's go out and whip it around,' " said former UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, who didn't coach Rosen _ that was Jim Mora _ but followed him closely. "Maybe he'll take a couple more shots down the field where he might have tucked it away.
"Maybe those things turn into big plays, and people are singing a completely different tune about Josh Rosen."
After all, what does he have to lose that the Dolphins haven't lost already?
