This past season, the Miami Dolphins and new head coach Adam Gase got off to a 1-4 start. It looked like business as usual for a franchise that had not enjoyed a winning season nor reached the playoffs in nearly a decade. The ‘Fins finished 11-5 and captured the Afc East in 2008. But thanks to some adjustments, a big year from second-year running back Jay Ajayi and a decent job by the backup quarterback, Miami was headed to the postseason. However, could a repeat trip to the postseason be in doubt after what happened Thursday in training camp?
What happened?
At practice on Thursday, the Miami Dolphins watched their starting quarterback go down. “I just saw him kind of buckle and go down. I didn't see any details," explained offensive coordinator to ESPN. "There was no contact on the play. That was all I really saw.” We would find out that this was an injury to the same knee that cost Tannehill the final few games in 2016. Now, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington, the possibility of season-ending surgery is very much a possibility. The team has numerous options in terms of the healing process, perhaps letting the five-year quarterback simply sit out the next few weeks and see how it plays out.
Then again, it appears not everyone is as optimistic as Schefter and Darlington.
One source talked about Tannehill’s chances of returning this season and stated, “He’s done, I think.” If that is indeed the case, what is Gase’s team to do?
Who could we expect to see?
As you may or may not recall, Matt Moore took over for Tannehill late last season and helped guide the Miami Dolphins to the playoffs. The veteran hurler is ready and able to take over and Gase has already been quoted as saying he was the team’s quarterback.
Of course, there’s also been talk about bringing in Colin Kaepernick, whose name comes up every time a quarterback goes down. Another very interesting name you hear is 11-year pro Jay Cutler, who recently retired after there appeared to be no interest from teams in the league. However, the strong-armed signal-caller was with the Chicago Bears when Gase was offensive coordinator.
The coach was a very positive influence on Cutler and took his raw skill and made him into a better player and team leader.
The Dolphins were a playoff team this past season for the first time since 2008. They’ve added some key personnel and are hoping to make a run at the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots in the AFC East. At the very least, Tannehill expects to miss some significant time. Stay tuned.
