Tannehill says his knee is back at 100 percent
DAVIE Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill said Thursday that his left knee, which sustained two sprained ligaments late last season, is healthy and “back to 100 percent.”
“Feeling good,” he said after the lastof three organized team activity practices this week. “Everything feels totally normal and [I’m] excited to keep pushing to get better next year.”
Although Tannehill wore a brace, he said it doesn’t affect his mobility or performance.
Tannehill — who went through all individual and team drills Thursday, the first OTA practice media was allowed to watch — said he thinks he’s fully recovered fromthe sprains to his anterior and medial collateral ligaments that he suffered on a hit by Arizona’s Calais Campbell on Dec. 11.
“I’m fully confident in the knee, and it’s not even in the back of my mind at all,” he said.
Tannehill had a stem cell therapy procedure during the offseason to promote healing in the knee. He didn’t require surgery and said physically and mentally there are nomore hurdles.
Asked specifically about his ACL, he said it’s “really strong and ready to go.”
Dolphins coach Adam Gase, known for being cautious with players recovering from injuries, said Tannehill looks fine. “I thought he looked the same as the last time I saw him play,” Gase said.
Thursday’s practice was moved to the team’s indoor practice facility because of inclement weather. Tannehill, who had 19 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a career-best 93.5 passer rating last season, appeared to go through every drill with relative ease, just as the Dolphins say he did during informal passing workouts he organized beforeOTAs.
There was a relatively close call Wednesday involving Tannehill. Apparently the defensivelinemen got a little too close during a pass rushing drill. Defensive end Andre Branch said Gase will inform defensive players when they’re getting too close to a quarterback.
“And then [Wednesday] we kind of got too close… it won’t happen again,” Branch saidwith a smile. year,” he said. “We’ll be competing against everybody.”