Ryan Tannehill hurts knee on hit from Calais Campbell (Video)
By John Buhler
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill takes a crushing blow to his left knee on a hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell.
The Miami Dolphins were up 21-9 on the Arizona Cardinals at home in Week 14. Miami looked poised to improve 8-5 on the year and garner its sixth win at home this season. Then something pretty bad happened to the Dolphins offense.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was drilled in the left knee on hit when he dropped back on a passing attempt. Cardinals Calais Campbell hit Tannehill just right on the left knee for it to buckle. Tannehill would hobble briefly before falling to the turf at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
Tannehill would be questionable to return after this hit he sustained from Campbell. That means long-time Miami backup quarterback Matt Moore will have to go in the meantime for the Miami offense.
Miami is up by two scores and will likely pound the rock against the Cardinals defense to milk out the rest of the clock. Moore is a capable backup, but keep in mind that this is his first season in Adam Gase’s offense. Will Gase play a conservative game the rest of the way with Moore under center?
With the way that Tannehill looked after getting hit, he may not return for the Dolphins on Sunday. They need him to be at full strength if Miami wants to push for an AFC Wild Card berth. The Dolphins have a solid defense and a reliable running game to keep the Cardinals at bay in the final minutes of this game.
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Should Tannehill suffer a torn ligament in his left knee, that probably means Miami won’t be able to push for playoff contention in the final weeks of the 2016 NFL season. This has been Tannehill’s best season as a professional.