Fans, media and players alike are keeping their eye on the Miami Dolphins quarterback situation as the trade deadline is on the horizon. Tua Tagovailoa is sidelined with a concussion, once again.

According to Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Tagovailoa plans to make his return to the gridiron in 2024 after taking the proper protocols to return to football healthily.

Still, eyes are on the quarterback position in the short term, and the club could even add a placeholder that could act as a long-term backup.

This isn’t the first Tagovailoa concussion or injury that has kept him out for an extended period of time. Historically, leaning on the Alabama product, alone, to provide quarterback play hasn’t been a safe gamble. The club has had to play a playoff game with a backup under center, even.

Before the trade deadline, it absolutely makes sense to acquire a backup quarterback who can also start until Tagovailoa is cleared to make his return to the field.

A recent CBS Sports story suggests that the Dolphins should make a move to acquire Dallas Cowboys quarterback Trey Lance, citing that it would cost them a conditional fifth-round pick.

Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick, has been able to show his athleticism and potential under McDaniel when the Dolphins head coach was with the San Francisco 49ers. The former first-round pick remains a project, though he’s been a backup to Dak Prescott for the Cowboys recently.

Miami would be smart to make the low-risk rental in Lance, as his dual-threat style could benefit the offense while giving the wide receivers a stable, talented arm to deliver the passes.

Given the squad the Dolphins have, a guy like Lance emerging within their squad could salvage their season in a big way and provide plenty of insurance given Tagovailoa’s injury history.