Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Gase encouraged by Tannehill’s progress
INDIANAPOLIS — Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is progressing nicely through his left knee rehabilitation program and seems to be on track to be a full participant when the offseason program begins in April, Miami Dolphins coach Adam Gase said Wednesday.
Gase, speaking at the NFL scouting combine, said Tannehill “has progressed extremely well” so far.
Tannehill sustained a knee injury late in the 2016 season, opted to not have surgery on the knee and sustained a season-ending left knee injury during 2017 training camp.
Tannehill has missed Miami’s last 20 games, including the wild-card playoff game at Pittsburgh after the 2016 season.
Gase, however, is encouraged by what he’s been told about Tannehill.
“Well, as far as what the trainers and doctors have told me, everything has progressed extremely well,” Gase said. “He’s always going to be ahead of where he’s supposed to be. He’s a physical freak and we’ll just kind of play this one as the week goes on, throughout the offseason.
“Really for me, I won’t personally know until we get into those stages to where we can be out at practice, throwing. All I can do is hear things are going good, he’s moving around well.”
Gase, whose team played with veteran Jay Cutler at quarterback last season, said the prospect of having Tannehill back this season is exciting.
“I’m extremely excited,” Gase said. “I know really our entire roster is. The guys that I talk to at the end of the year, everybody appreciated what he brought to the table in years past. Sometimes you lose perspective of what somebody does for your team and what he did for us in 2016 when we lost him and going through an entire season without having him. I think the appreciation for him, not only for the coaching staff but other players is very high.”
Gase added Tannehill wouldn’t mind if the Dolphins select a quarterback at No. 11.
“Ryan would never shy away from anybody coming in at that position,” Gase said. “Ryan is going to be our starting quarterback. And I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
Ja’Wuan