Tua Tagovailoa is in the concussion protocol. Teddy Bridgewater has been injured as of late.
So the Miami Dolphins’ playoff hopes rest on quarterback Skylar Thompson, starting with a game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Highmark Stadium. Not exactly the most ideal situation for the Fins, but it’s what they have to deal with.
And if you’re watching the game on Sunday and are wondering who he is? You’ve come to the right place.
Here are a few facts about Thompson to get to know the starting quarterback as he gets set to make his first playoff start:
1
He was a star at Kansas State
He threw for over 7,000 yards and 42 touchdowns — plus 26 scores on the ground — at Kansas State and led the Wildcats to a Texas Bowl win in 2021, where he was the game’s MVP in the 42-20 win over LSU.
2
He was taken in the seventh round of the 2022 draft out of Kansas State
Here’s the moment he got the call!
3
He played in seven games this season with two starts
The numbers — 534 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions — weren’t great. But he did just enough against the Jets in Week 18 to get the team to the postseason.
Skylar Thompson: "If you would've asked me a year ago if I'd be standing here doing this… I probably would've laughed at you. I'm thankful."
The former #KStateFB QB is headed to the playoffs. @skylarjthompson pic.twitter.com/ZcypBdt4o3
— Glenn Kinley (@glenn_kinley) January 8, 2023
4
He grew up in Palmyra, Missouri
He’s the son of basketball coach Brad Thompson:
“He was the first to play football in our family even though I had no intention of letting him play,” said Brad Thompson, who coached basketball at Palmyra until 2000, then spent three years in administration at Highland before coming back to Palmyra as principal for two years.
“When we left Palmyra for Fort Osage in 2005, I made a deal with him that I’d let him play football and he could give it a shot. He started out as an offensive lineman before getting moved to quarterback. Turned out well, I guess,” Brad said.
His mom, Teresa, died when Skylar was six. From the Palm Beach Post:
When he was 6 years old, his mother, Teresa, died of cancer. About 6 months before that, he had lost his grandfather John, also to cancer.
“He’s just kind of always approached life a little bit different than most kids I’ve been around,” Brad Thompson said. “I was a coach and a principal. I’ve been around kids. And he just — he’s just kind of wired a little different than most.”
