Health of ailing starters showing improvement
DAVIE – The Miami Dolphins will face the Detroit Lions without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, but this injury-ravaged team could be getting few others starters back.
Pass rushing specialist Cameron Wake (knee), cornerback Bobby McCain (knee) and tight end A.J. Derby (foot) each participated in their second consecutive practice on Thursday, hinting that they are closer to getting back to the field.
Wake, a five-time Pro Bowl pick who has missed the past two games because of an arthroscopic procedure he had earlier this month, will be needed this week against the Lions because Charles Harris (calf ) and Jonathan Woodard (concussion) likely won’t play. That could leave Miami with three defensive ends for the entire game if Wake isn’t available.
“I’ll talk to him probably later today to see how he feels or wait until tomorrow just to see [how he feels] the next day,” coach Adam Gase said when asked about Wake. “A lot of times you just get a better feel in the morn-
Tankersley finished the season with 31 tackles and seven pass breakups, but the expectations were that he would take his game to the next level this season, locking down the starting spot opposite Xavien Howard this spring and summer.
But that never happened, and his fall from prominence has been one of this season’s biggest mysteries, and is a topic Miami’s coaches have tiptoed around till now.
“He was struggling a little bit early in the season, in the preseason where it wasn’t going as well for him as he wanted and that dinged his confidence a little bit,” coach Adam Gase said.
Because of Tankersley’s struggles, which were abundantly obvious in the Carolina Panthers preseason game, the Dolphins moved Bobby McCain, who has previously served as Miami’s nickel cornerback his past three years, to the boundary. That opened the door for rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick, the team’s 2018 first-round pick, to start at nickel.
Those two had been playing well until McCain suffered a knee injury and Miami was forced to lean on the next man up.
Torry McTyer had outperformed Tankersley and Tony Lippett, who got released at the end of training camp, and leapfrogged them on the depth chart. Tankersley even fell behind rookie Cornell Armstrong because of his special teams contributions and was inactive for two games.
But McTyer’s struggles against the Bears’ Mitchell Trubisky, who connected on two deep passes and threw a touchdown to a receiver McTyer was covering, led to Tankersley’s resurrection.
He replaced McTyer and played a handful of snaps to close out the win.
Tankersley openly admits his personal expectations for himself haven’t been met, and that he’s disappointed by that. But he’s remained positive, and has been fighting to turn the tide, and regain the coaching staff ’s confidence.
“I held my own,” Tankersley said. “I just going to keep doing what I’m doing and support my teammates. That’s what it’s all about.
“Coaches are going to put the best players out there to help us win. My goal is to go out there and help the team however I can.”
After worse.
Keep in mind Tankersley watched two previous starters – Byron Maxwell and Tony Lippett – get waived the past two seasons, and he’s seen safety Maurice Smith, a fellow teammate who actually played in the nickel package this month, get cut and resigned three times this season, most recently this week.
That’s why Tankersley’s not complaining about his playing status. He’s focused on making sure he’s ready when his number is called.
Defensive coordinator Matt Burke claims Tankersley has been at his best during practice the past two weeks, but admitted he primarily works with the scout team, preparing the offensive starters for their opponent.
Gase said he wants to see Tankersley pull down more interceptions and break up more passes during practice.
Maybe then he’ll be given a chance to become a contributor again.
“He’s headed in a better direction than he was earlier in training camp,” Gase said. “He’s more confident now, and is practicing a lot better than he did earlier in the season. He’s going to get an opportunity with the amount of injuries we’ve been having this year. He’ll be out there. We just need to have him keep improving.” all, it could be Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, left, goes through the motions of making a pass beside backup Brock Osweiler during practice Wednesday at Doctors Hospital Training Facility in Davie. Gase: Shoulder surgery not an option for QB Tannehill his shoulder worsened pass. could also start in place of during Dolphins practice “He could throw tomorrow Tannehill next Thursday’s last week. if he wanted to,” Gase road game against his former
Gase believes Tannehill said of Tannehill. “He just team, the Houston will return at some point might not feel very good.” Texans. for the Dolphins this season, Gase’s comment intended Gase said Wednesday and said Tannehill to clarify comments Tannehill’s status for the will again be the starter made on Wednesday, Houston game is unknown. over Osweiler when he becomes when he said Tannehill healthy. “just can’t throw” in “It’s really been one of
Also, rest will be the best Dolphins practice. those things where we option for Tannehill’s recovery. “We’re taking it really have to regroup and figure day-to-day, and every out where he’s at,” Gase
If Tannehill were to week, hopefully we’ll see told media in Detroit on a undergo shoulder surgery, progress,” Gase said conference call Wednesday. it is highly likely it would Wednesday of Tannehill. end his season. “We’re working on everything “Last week kind of went
Tannehill did not throw and anything with downhill from the start of for the second consecutive pocket movements, footwork, the week until the end of day in Thursday’s Dolphins things like that. He the week. … We went back practice, lining up can do everything. He just and had some more evaluations beside or behind Osweiler can’t throw.” from some of the and reserve quarterback The Dolphins are facing doctors. We think right David Fales, taking mental a stretch of two games in a now this is the best thing repetitions and working week, and three games in 11 for us to do this week, and on throwing motions days overall. then we’ll reevaluate it at without winding up for a It is likely the end of the week.”
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase said the team is not exploring surgery as an option for quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s injured right shoulder.
“We’re not looking at that,” Gase said of Tannehill on Thursday.
Gase’s comment comes a day after the Dolphins ruled Tannehill out of Sunday’s Week 7 game against the Detroit Lions at 1 p.m. in Hard Rock Stadium.
Brock Osweiler will get his second consecutive start for the Dolphins.
Gase has been adamant about several points regarding Tannehill, who missed last Sunday’s home game against the Bears after Osweiler