Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ryan Tannehill is wearing a brace but throwing the football.
DAVIE — Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who hasn’t been ruled out for a possible return during the playoffs despite having two sprained ligaments in his left knee, walked around during practice Thursday with a brace on the knee.
Tannehill had a bit of a limp but seemed to move fairly well while helping coach quarterbacks and wide receivers during drills. He’s also been throwing a football, coach Adam Gase said.
Gase said one factor will be key toward determining when Tannehill returns, if he returns:
“When I feel comfortable with what the doctors are telling me that we’re not going to have any kind of injury ... hurting his career or hurting his chances to play next year,” Gase said.
“So we’re going to be very, very smart.”
The Dolphins haven’t put Tannehill on the seasonending injured reserve list. Tannehill has missed the past two games after spraining the ACL and MCL in his left knee Dec. 11 against Arizona.
“He throws it a little bit,” Gase said, “but ... he’s not moving, so he’s just out there keeping his arm loose.”
Gase said he hasn’t received an update from doctors on when Tannehill might be available. “I haven’t asked,” he said. But Tannehill has been helpful, the coach said.
“When you’re a quarterback, you’re usually ahead of the curve on most things,” Gase said. “He’s got a lot of opportunity to watch probably more film than what he normally has.
“He’s doing a good job of coaching those guys on the field any time somebody makes a mistake. He can help them, and just having basically another coach on the field.”
Maxwell, Jenkins out Sunday
Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said neither cornerback Byron Maxwell (ankle) nor linebacker Jelani Jenkins (knee), who both missed last week’s game against Buffalo, will play Sunday against New England. “[Byron’s] still very sore. The same with Jelani, he’s still very sore,” Joseph said. “Hopefully those guys kind of heal up this weekend, get ready for the playoffs in a week.
“But they’re not going to play this week, those two. They’re both out.”
Most likely rookie cornerback Xavien Howard will again start for Maxwell and veteran linebacker
Spencer Paysinger will start again for Jenkins, who is a starter in the nickel package.
Paysinger (knee) and running back Jay Ajayi (shoulder) were limited in practice Thursday but both are expected to play.
Gray says he has new 2-year deal
The Dolphins have spent the final week of the regular season locking up a couple of their impending free agents. On Thursday, tight end
MarQueis Gray posted on social media that he had signed a two-year deal. That came a day after the Dolphins extended offensive lineman Sam Young’s contract an extra year.
“Finally got a place to call home for the next two years,” Gray wrote on Instagram, referring to his nomadic NFL career, which includes four teams in three years. “Much sweeter when all your hard work gets rewarded.”
Gray has 14 receptions for 174 yards this season and was earning $675,000.
The terms of the extension were not disclosed, and the deal hadn’t been reported to the league.
Rizzi has little to say on incident
Dolphins special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi appeared to get into an altercation with Buffalo linebacker Jerry Hughes last week after a punt return, when the play spilled onto the Dolphins sideline. Players from both teams gathered and did some jawing and pushing and shoving, and it appeared Hughes attempted to headbutt Rizzi.
But Rizzi said there is no NFL investigation and that the matter is over.
“Again, just trying to be a peacemaker, staying away, get guys out of the way,” he said. “Good job by the officials getting everybody out of their quickly. Listen, things like that happen. Move on. No big deal.”