Tannehill’s approach: Day-to-day
Gase says QB’s shoulder injury worsened during practice last week
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins offense just racked up 541 yards and scored 31 points with a backup quarterback in an overtime victory against one of the NFL’s most stout defenses.
If you told Dolphins coach Adam Gase that would be the outcome of Sunday’s 31-28 win over the Chicago Bears before it happened, he would have believed it.
“I’m messed up enough to think that’s what it’s going to be every week,” Gase said with a smile on Monday.
Gase’s response was the most lighthearted on a Victory Monday filled with questions surrounding the status of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, whose sore right shoulder set the stage for Brock Osweiler’s first start.
Before
aDolphins’ quarterback controversy brews, Gase set the record straight:
The Dolphins are taking a day-to-day approach with Tannehill’s injury.
Tannehill is expected to return at some point this season.
And yes, as Gase said emphatically, Tannehill will be the Dolphins’ starting quarterback when he becomes healthy again.
In the meantime, the hot-handed Osweiler will be ready if he has to start for the Dolphins (4-2) in their Week 7 matchup against the Detroit Lions (2-3) this Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
“I just want him to be healthy. I want him to be right,” Gase said of Tannehill, who will try to return to practice Wednesday.
“I don’t want him to put himself in a situation where he goes to do something and it’s not there, Dolphins quarterback Brock Osweiler, left, delivered for coach Adam Gase during Sunday’s win over the Bears.
like he needs to throw a ball a certain way and he can’t juice it up the way he thinks he can, and then you throw a ball that doesn’t come out right.”
Gase said he and Tannehill had significant discussions about Tannehill being able to make the throws he wants and needs to make during the course of a game.
Tannehill worked out before Sunday’s game and received treatment with hopes of playing against the Bears before he was ultimately ruled inactive for the contest.
The Dolphins say Tannehill is dealing with a sore shoulder, refuting a report of an AC joint sprain, or separated shoulder.
The injury was suffered after the second of two turnovers that resulted in touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 5, after a defensive lineman stripped him as he winded up for a throw.
Tannehill will not undergo any more tests for his shoulder, as Gase said rest will be best for Tannehill’s recovery, and the way he wants to throw the football.
One of the odd occurrences in Tannehill’s injury is the series of events last week, when Tannehill was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before becoming a limited participant in Friday’s practice and marked questionable for the Bears game.
Typically, players progressively work their way toward a full recovery, whereas Tannehill’s injury worsened through the week.
And while players are quick to combat trainers in favor of being cleared to play, Tannehill was in full agreement with the Dolphins trainers that his shoulder felt worse.
“It’s just such an unusual situation because last week, we started the week, he was sore, but it got worse as the week went on. That’s kinda why we found ourselves in a position that we weren’t really thinking we were going to be in,” Gase said of Tannehill.
“Normally, when he’s banged up or has some kind of injury, he progresses positively. That’s why we thought we’d get the same thing, but it didn’t happen.”
When asked whether Tannehill’s injury absence could be long-term, Gase reiterated he is unsure and repeated Tannehill is day-to-day.
“It’s really going to be about how he feels,” Gase continued.
“We can be told by doctors and trainers ‘This is what we think is going to happen,’ but he’s been one of those guys that’s opposite of what you’re being told. … This was the first time where we were being told one thing that this is unusual going one way, and [Tannehill] agreeing he didn’t feel right. Normally, he’ll try to go opposite of what they tell him.”
Gase’s comments Monday were more subdued and revealing compared to his outburst when asked about the extent of Tannehill’s injury following the Bears game.
Gase was defensive, referring to a HIPAA law to avoid sharing Tannehill’s injury information before saying, “Me and him, we know that he’s not right right now, OK? The details of it, we’ll keep that to us. You guys don’t need to know that.”
As for Osweiler, Gase was pleased to see his backup get a chance to shine. Osweiler was Peyton Manning’s backup from 2012-15 in Denver, where Gase was an assistant from 2012-14. But Osweiler sparingly played behind Manning, who always wanted to play despite the score.
Osweiler completed 28-of-44 passes for a career-high 380 yards with three touchdowns despite two interceptions against the Bears — a team he has coincidentally beaten in his first start with the Houston Texans, Broncos and Dolphins during his career.
If Osweiler has to start against the Lions, history is on his side: He led the Texans and Broncos to victories in his second starts.
“[Osweiler] had to watch a lot, and it was finally cool to be able to call a game with him after all those years,” Gase said.