Gase declares Tannehill out vs. Lions
In midst of 3 games in 11 days, Osweiler to make his 2nd start
DAVIE — Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill will not play in Miami’s Week 7 home game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, coach Adam Gase said Wednesday.
And there is a possibility Tannehill, who surprisingly missed last Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears shoulder injury, could miss amount of time.
Tannehill may have been present for Dolphins practice Wednesday, but his participation was clearly limited — he did not make a single throw during the portion of practice open to media.
“We’re taking it really day-to-day, and every week, hopefully we’ll see progress,” Gase said of Tannehill. “We’re working on everything and anything with pocket movements, footwork, things like that. He can do with a right an extended everything. He just can’t throw.”
Tannehill’s injury means backup Brock Osweiler will start his second consecutive game for the Dolphins, who are in the midst of a three-game stretch in 11 days.
Following the Lions game, the Dolphins will travel to play the Texans next Thursday. Gase was unsure when asked if Tannehill would be available against Houston.
“I legitimately [don’t know], reading the stuff they gave me and all the opinions we got the other day,” Gase said. “It’s just an unknown for us.”
The NFL plans to contact the Dolphins to ensure they followed the injury report policy regarding Tannehill before last week’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. It's common for the league to look into such situations when a prominent player misses a game, especially a starting quarterback.
Gase, however, did reiterate his expectation for Tannehill to return from the injury at some point this season.
“Yeah, as far as I know,” Gase said.
On Wednesday, Tannehill lined up either next to or behind Osweiler during drills in practice taking mental repetitions and going through the motions of making a pass without winding up to throw.
Practice began with the quarterbacks working on handoffs to running backs with the option to make a pass after the play-action. Osweiler and fellow reserve quarterback David Fales threw the football, while Tannehill did not.
When the Dolphins quarterbacks lined up for intermediate or deep throws, Tannehill stood behind the offense while Osweiler and Fales worked.
Osweiler made his first career start with the Dolphins in last Sunday’s 31-28 win over the Bears in overtime.
He threw for a careerhigh 380 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions, leading the Dolphins to 514 yards of total offense — their highest total in a game in 30 years.
Tannehill suffered the injury when a defensive lineman stripped him as he winded up for a throw against the Bengals in Week 5. The play was the second of two turnovers that resulted in touchdowns in the Dolphins’ loss.
Tannehill was a full participant in practice last week on Wednesday and Thursday, before being a limited participant Friday and marked questionable for the Bears game.
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. He worked out before the game and received treatment before he was ultimately ruled inactive.