Dolphins apparently happy with backups to Ryan Tannehill
The Miami Dolphins made a notable signing after Ryan Tannehill went down last year, but this year that won’t be the case.
After he missed the end of the 2016 season with a partially torn ACL and MCL in his left knee, and he did not have surgery, it was easy to predict Ryan Tannehill going down in last year’s training camp as he did. The team pivoted quickly though, coaxing Jay Cutler out of a brief retirement to take over as the starting quarterback.
The Dolphins were on the fringe of the quarterback conversation leading up to last month’s draft. But at No.11 overall they were too far down to stand pat and get one of the top four prospects at the position, and with other needs Lamar Jackson was not on the radar.
Tannehill is on track to be ready for Week 1, and the pre-draft quarterback buzz led to a report he has been assured of the starting job this year. But what if the 2012 first-round pick gets hurt again? Speaking to the media on Thursday, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase dismissed the idea of another Cutler-esque signing when asked about it.
"“No. Nope. Nope,“There’s a lot of confidence as far as the guys that we have here right now,” Gase said. “[W]e felt good with Ryan starting and the Brock and David competing for that No. 2 spot. Now you add Bryce and that’s going to be an interesting competition. Really, we’re just going to see how it all works out for us.”"
Brock Osweiler, who worked under Gase as the No.2 quarterback for the Denver Broncos from 2012-2014, when Gase was quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator, was signed to a one-year deal this offseason. David Fales appeared in two games for the Dolphins last year, and threw for 265 yards with a touchdown and an interception in by far his most extensive regular season action in four NFL seasons. And Bryce Petty was just claimed off waivers from the New York Jets, with seven starts, four touchdown passes and 10 interceptions on his resume.
Due in part to Petty being so new to the Dolphins, Gase confirmed Osweiler or Fales will be first in line if Tannehill goes down again.
“I’m comfortable with the two guys, between David and Brock,” I’m comfortable. If I wasn’t, then we’d have somebody else here.”
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No NFL team easily survives a long absence by its starting quarterback. A debate can be had about Tannehill ever becoming a top-tier signal caller in the league, but a repeat of 2017 for him injury-wise looks sure to be even worse for the Dolphins.