On Friday, the Miami Dolphins announced Tua Tagovailoa cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol. The Dolphins star quarterback is set to make his first start since he sustained a brain injury in Week 2.

The Dolphins season has suffered with Tagovailoa on injured reserve. Miami is entering their Week 8 contest against the Arizona Cardinals with a. 2-4 record.

Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson got the start in Week 3 before veteran Tyler Huntley took over the starting job for the Dolphins' last three games.

The quality of quarterback play without Tagovailoa has been poor. The Dolphins have just one touchdown pass since Week 3.

Mike Florio with Pro Football Talk suggested the Dolphins must plan to add a "high-end" backup quarterback for the rest of Tagovailoa's career in Miami.

"Tua's new contract carries a three-year commitment. The Dolphins need to have a high-end backup for the duration of that stretch," Florio wrote. "Really, for as long as Tua is the team's starting quarterback, the Dolphins will be crazy not to have someone who can step in and go."

Florio speculated the Dolphins might have been afraid in the past to sign a top backup because that quarterback might have "threatened" Tagovailoa by having nearly similar abilities.

"If that was the case, those days need to end," Florio wrote. "They can't tiptoe around Tua. They need to have a No. 2 who might be as good as Tua, because they need to assume they'll need that guy after any given play of any given game."

The Dolphins added two quarterbacks after Tagovailoa's injury. Huntley took over the starting job for three games. Tim Boyle played in two games. (Miami signed Boyle after finding out C.J. Beathard was rehabbing from a groin injury.)

Tagovailoa is the Dolphins leading passer in 2024. He's 40-of-62 passing for 483 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Related: Tua Tagovailoa's Injury Status Suddenly Changes Two Days Before Dolphins-Cardinals