With Cutler in concussion protocol, Moore appears likely to start Sunday.

With starting quarterback Jay Cut

DAVIE — ler in the NFL concussion protocol, the Dolphins are operating with Matt Moore as their guy for now.

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Coach Adam Gase declined to commit to a starter when asked Monday, saying he needs to see how Cutler progresses before making a decision for Sunday’s game at New England. Gase said he had not spoken to Cutler since the concussion and had “no idea” how he was doing or whether he has a chance of playing this week.

When asked if Cutler is automatically the starter when healthy, Gase endorsed him but left room to change his mind.

“Obviously, him being in the concussion protocol, I don’t know how long this will be,” Gase said. “Jay’s really done everything I’ve asked him to do, and there’s no reason for me to say he’s not (the starter).”

Cutler was knocked out of a game for the second time this season when he suffered a concussion against the Buccaneers and left at halftime. He completed 6 of 12 passes for 83 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

Moore came in at the start of the third quarter and rallied Miami from a 20-7 deficit to tie it with three minutes left. He completed 17 for 28 for 282 yards and a TD.

Another point of concern in Sunday’s game was that the Dolphins had no other quarterback available if Moore was injured. No. 3 David Fales was inactive — Gase has never dressed more than two quarterbacks — and Miami likely would’ve been forced to play tight end MarQueis Gray or receiver Jarvis Landry at quarterback if Moore had gotten hurt.

Moore took hard hits on at least two plays in the second half of the 30-20 loss, but stayed in the game.

“You think about it,” Gase said of the risk he took. “When there’s that much time left, it’s hard to be too protective, especially when you’re (losing). Last year when (Ryan Tannehill’s knee injury) happened in the Arizona game, we were actually up, and I was very cautious

( wi t h Moore) . But when you’re down, you just call it and you’re hoping for the best.

“I try not to say too much to Matt as far as, ‘Hey, be smart and don’t take any hits,’ because that’s one thing that he doesn’t really need to think about. It’s a tough position to be in when you get to your backup quarterback and you really don’t have anything behind him. It’s always gonna be a thought, but at the end of the day, we have to figure out what’s best for that week.”

Fales, who was with Gase in Chicago in 2015, was on the roster from April through the final cut before the season began. The Dolphins brought him back last month when Cutler sustained two fractured ribs against the Jets and dressed him the follow-

ing week at Baltimore.

Moore replaced Cutler in the Jets game and led a comeback from 14 points down to win. He started the ensuing game at the Ravens, when the Dolphins were smoked 40-0 and he threw two pick-sixes.

In three appearances (essentially two games’ worth of playing time), Moore has completed 59.1 percent of his passes, averaged 215.3 yards and has three touchdowns and three interceptions.

Cutler’ s 82.7 passer rating for the season ranks 25th among qualifying NFL quarterbacks. He has completed 64.4 percent of his passes, averages 178 yards per game and has 13 touchdowns against nine interceptions.