Dolphins’ Tannehill out for season, goes on IR

DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase is confident quarterback Ryan Tannehill will be ready for the 2018 season, but 2017 is out.

The Dolphins placed Tannehill on injured reserve Saturday because of his left knee injury, sidelining him for the entire season. Tannehill and the Dolphins decided surgery will be the best option for his torn ACL.

“It was probably tougher for me,” Gase said of his conversation with the sixth-year pro. “It’s more and more real. It’s unfortunate for him. He worked so hard.”

Tannehill’s replacement, Jay Cutler, practiced for the second time Saturday and might play in Thursday’s exhibition game against the Baltimore Ravens.

“If he feels good enough to go on Thursday, where the pocket feel is there and he feels like he’s in a good place, then he’ll go,” Gase said.

Cutler, who parted with the Chicago Bears after eight seasons, postponed retirement and his TV job, signing a $10 million, one-year contract this past week.

Tannehill will still be around the team this season, Gase said.

“There are going to be times where he’ll be rehabbing at other facilities,” Gase said. “But there will be some weeks where he’s going to be around a lot, and he’ll be able to help the coaching staff and help the players.”

Broncos relieved

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos appear to have dodged a huge hit to their battered defensive line: Derek Wolfe’s right ankle injury apparently isn’t as serious as first thought.

The sixth-year defensive end was carted off the field after he got tangled up with right tackle Menelik Watson on the second snap of team drills during practice Saturday. Watson got up on his own, uninjured, while a cart was summoned for Wolfe.

After practice, Broncos coach Vance Joseph said Wolfe sustained a lower-ankle injury.

“We’re not sure how bad. We’re kind of assuming it’s not that bad,” Joseph said. “At first look it wasn’t serious, but we’ll know more tomorrow.”

Wolfe seemed to confirm the diagnosis of a sprain later in the afternoon when he tweeted a picture of his puffy right ankle with the phrase, “Just a little swelling.” In another tweet he wrote, “Appreciate the love. Dodged a bullet,” with the hash tag“blame it on the cleats .”

A sprain would be a big relief to the Broncos, who are counting on Wolfe to serve as the fulcrum of their star-studded defense by leading a run-stuffing resurgence. The Broncos’ biggest bugaboo last season was a porous D-line — they were 28th in the league against the run, No. 1 against the pass — and that disparity defanged their strengths: linebacker Von Miller wrecking game plans with cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. shutting down receivers.

Dobbs reflects

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin got what he expected from fourth-round draft pick Josh Dobbs in the former University of Tennessee quarterback’s first NFL test.

He had his ups and downs, but he showed he belongs in the league.

Dobbs played most of the game Friday night as the short-handed Steelers beat the New York Giants 20-12 in the preseason opener for both teams.

Dobbs didn’t get off to a quick start. His two early interceptions led to two field goals for the Giants, but he turned his game around during the second quarter with a 44-yard pass to Cobi Hamilton to set up Chris Boswell’s first field goal and he added a 28-yard scoring strike to Hamilton for a 10-9 lead.

“Of course there were some throws you want back and some plays that were good,” Dobbs said. “I was able to respond from a little adversity at the beginning of the game, but this is a good start and I’ll be able to build off this.”