Miami Dolphins starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be out for the season as he will undergo knee surgery on his left knee. According to Armando Salguero, the decision was reached after Dolphins coach Adam Gase and Tannehill were presented with several options. Before opting for reconstructive surgery, Tannehill also looked into the possibility of treatment on his left knee.
Last season, the quarterback suffered a partial ACL tear on that same knee but he opted for stem cell treatment instead of undergoing surgery.
Salguero said that the 29-year-old Tannehill is expected to undergo surgery sometime next week and will be placed on injured reserve with no chance to return later this season. The Dolphins expect him to be ready before the start of training camp in 2018. Tannehill sustained the injury on August 3 on a non-contact play when he planted his left leg awkwardly while rolling to his right. He fell to the ground before walking gingerly to the locker room. Initially, it was reported that there was no structural damage to Tannehill’s left knee but Adam Schefter of ESPN said the quarterback’s latest knee issue will require season-ending surgery.
Dolphins signed Jay Cutler to replace Tannehill
Days after Tannehill went down with the injury, the Dolphins lured veteran quarterback Jay Cutler out of retirement and signed him to a one-year deal worth $10 million. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network Insider reported that the 34-year-old Cutler will pocket an additional $3 million in incentives from the deal. Cutler was reunited with Gase, the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator in 2015. Under Gase’s guidance, Cutler tossed for 3,659 yards and 21 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions. Tannehill, for his part, tossed for 2,995 yards with 19 touchdowns and 12 picks in 13 games before he suffered the injury.
Joe Flacco to return in regular season
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is expected to play in Week 1 against the the Cincinnati Bengals on September 10.
The Ravens said Flacco will return to practice but he will not play in the three remaining preseason games. Based on the latest prognosis on Flacco’s back, the Ravens said his progress is good, which is positive news for the team. The Ravens were expecting Flacco to miss significant time due to recurring back issues, so this is a good sign. Backup quarterback Ryan Mallett will play for the Ravens in the preseason as he tries to put his previous forgettable performances behind him.