Sorry, Dolphins fans,
The answer will be crucial as Dolphins begin process of making offseason plans
but Miami’s coach says QB Ryan Tannehill might need surgery to repair the two sprained ligaments in his left knee.
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill might need surgery to repair the two sprained ligaments in his left knee, coach Adam Gase said Wednesday.
“We’re still going through that process right now with the trainers, with what our next step is, where his health is, how strong is his knee,” Gase said at the Dolphins’ end-ofs-eason news conference. “We’re still collecting information, doctors are still giving us what possibly could be down the road so it’s hard for us to really pinpoint anything as of this moment right now.”
Tannehill sprained the anterior cruciate medial collateral ligaments in his left knee against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 11. He practiced lightly Friday and never went on injured reserve, because the Dolphins felt there was a chance he could play if they made an extended playoff run.
The Dolphins (10-7), whose season ended with a 30-12 AFC wild-card playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Heinz Field, are hopeful Tannehill won’t require surgery and won’t miss any part of the offseason program. They still aren’t sure that will be the case.
Asked whether Tannehill may need a major reconstructive surgery — one that likely would sideline him for months — Gase said, “I don’t even know. I can’t answer that, because it hasn’t been a question that really we’ve dove into quite yet.”
Meanwhile, Mike Tannenbaum, the Dolphins’ executive vice president of football op-
erations, said he’d like to extend the contracts of wide receiver Jarvis Landry and strong safety Reshad Jones, who are entering the final year of their deals. But he said it’s too early to say anything definitively about their futures with the team.
“There was a lot of improvement this year,” Tannenbaum said. “So be it Reshad, Jarvis, there are a lot of other guys that are going to be UFAs [unrestricted free agents] starting the league year in March of 2017, that we want to look at to try to keep some of our own.
“In addition, we want to extend players. But one of the things that we also have to look at, one of the factors is: It’s not a one-year view. So who is up in 2018? 2019? Adam always likes to roll his eyes, but I always say, ‘Our plan is firmly etched in pencil.’ ”
Gase praises club
Gase, whose Dolphins won nine of their final 11 regular-season games after starting 1-4, was asked what he liked most about his team. He said it was its mentality.
“Some phase stepped up every week,” he said. “For us to find five different ways to have a game-winning touchdown — which I think only had happened one other time in the last 20-some years — that was impressive to see the fight our guys had.”
Loose ends
Defensive end Dion Jordan, the 2013 first-round pick who spent the season on the non-football-injury list, could become a free agent. “We’re going to go through the whole process with all of our players, and he’s one guy that we’ll look at as well,’’ Tannenbaum said. …
Gase said they haven’t yet thought about whether to keep left tackle Branden Albert at his current position or move rookie left guard Laremy Tunsil to that position . ...
Gase supports the NFL and the players’ association reviewing the concussion protocol for quarterback Matt Moore from Sunday’s game. “It’s really in the league’s hands right now,” Gase said. “I know the NFL and NFLPA are doing exactly what they should do, and that’s make sure that everything was followed properly.” ...
Gase was asked whether he expects changes to his coaching staff, aside from ex-defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who is going to Denver as head coach. “None,” he said . ...
Said Tannenbaum: “I’m really excited about the future, but we have a lot of work to do.” …
Said first-year general manager Chris Grier: “We won 10 games but we lost at the end of the year . ... We’re happy with a lot of things but we also know that there is a lot of improvement that can be done.”