Tannehill doing best to remain involved
DAVIE — Short of actually rolling out and throwing passes, Ryan Tannehill is doing everything he can to help the Dolphins while he works back from a season-ending knee injury.
Tannehill is out for the year after his left knee gave out early in training camp, but “out” is a strong word considering how involved the quarterback remains. In addition to his rehab, he’s been on the sideline throughout the season and traveled for every road game, even the one in London.
While it’s common for coaches to refer to injured players like this as pseudo-assistant coaches, that’s an oversimplification of Tannehill’s contribution. He’s at practice, he’s in meetings and, most importantly, he’s in Adam Gase’s ear during games. Tannehill has an earpiece on the sideline and occasionally suggests play calls.
“It’s not a ton, but it seems to be at the right time,” Gase said of Tannehill’s interjections. “He has a good feel. He knows me well enough to know when a good time is and when it isn’t a good time.
“It’s very helpful for me because he’s got a very good grasp of what our offense is and what we’re trying to accomplish. He knows the right way to kind of defuse me when I’m going off the rails.”
It must be killing Tannehill to watch from the side as Jay Cutler runs the offense Tannehill imagined taking to new heights this year, but it doesn’t seem to get him down. He often talks with Cutler and the other quarterbacks at practices and games, and Cutler has used him as a resource since his arrival.
Tannehill is in the locker room during media access most days, though he hasn’t spoken publicly since the injury. He seems to be walking comfortably, and he’s occasionally been seen doing light agility drills on the side. He throws quite a bit, too.
The only real downside to having Tannehill there is the concern over a play spilling into the sideline and him being taken down. Gase has been nervous about that possibility from the onset and constantly barks at him to stay back.
“I pretty much have said that to him every week,” Gase said. “That’s the last thing that you want to see is something else happen. He’s staying away from the play for the most part.
“For him, he feels like he’s already all right and he’s doing a lot of the things that it looks like he’s all right, but we just know that it’s a process. We’ve still got a ways to go.”
Injury updates: The Miami Dolphins showed some encouraging signs on offense in an upset at Atlanta last week, but will two key pieces be available at home Sunday against the Jets?
Miami has been holding out hope that center Mike Pouncey (concussion) and/ or wide receiver DeVante Parker (ankle) may be able to play, despite not practicing earlier in the week.
In a step forward Friday, Pouncey participated in positional drills, making contact with teammates.
Pouncey sustained the concussion in last week’s victory at Atlanta and was replaced by Jake Brendel in the second half. While Brendel played capably, having Pouncey against such Jets inside stalwarts as Leonard Williams and Mo Wilkerson would help.
The Dolphins are already playing without starting left guard Ted Larsen, who became eligible to practice this week for the first time since injuring a bicep. Miami’s offensive line did finally have a very strong overall game last week.
Parker, who did not appear at the start of Friday’s practice, sustained the ankle injury against the Titans on Oct. 8 and hasn’t practiced since. Parker has been seen walking without any visible limp in the Dolphins’ locker room.