QB Cutler returns to lead ‘worst offense in football’

Jay Cutler will return to the Miami Dolphins’ starting lineup Sunday night against the Oakland Raiders, according to coach Adam Gase. But whether the 11-year veteran quarterback can awaken what Gase called the “worst offense in football” remains a question, especially considering he might be limited due to a rib injury.

Cutler isn’t off to a good start with seven touchdowns, five interceptions, and a 78.8 passer rating that ranks 28th in the NFL. And now he must deal with an injury, the severity of which remains unclear.

Cutler, suffering from what Gase called “multiple cracked ribs,” missed the Dolphins’ 40-0 shutout loss at Baltimore on Thursday.

Gase, speaking about Cutler last week, said quarterbacks can play with a rib injury.

“It becomes a huge pain tolerance thing once you kind of get everything calmed down,” he said. “It’s not an easy injury because it’s tough to breathe, let alone throw, and all of those types of things that you have to do as a quarterback.”

Cutler already wears custom-made pads, according to Gase, and was wearing them when he sustained the hit by New York Jets linebacker Jordan Jenkins that forced him to miss last week’s game.

“He had pretty good protection,” Gase said. “It just didn’t matter.”

Cutler’s return this week shouldn’t be a big shock because he doesn’t have an extensive recent injury history.

Cutler only played five games in 2016 with Chicago due to thumb and shoulder injuries, the latter requiring surgery in December. The Bears went 1-4 in his starts.

But Cutler made 15 starts in both 2014 and 2015, missing one game in 2015 due to a hamstring injury, and one in 2014 after being benched in December.

The key to how well Cutler performs could rest on the severity of his “multiple cracked ribs.”

In 2014, Carolina quarterback Cam Newton sustained a hairline fracture to a rib during the preseason and missed the preseason finale as well as the season opener. He returned in Week 2 to throw for 281 yards and one touchdown.

Cutler’s injury, according to Gase, could have allowed him to return for last week’s game.

Gase said Cutler ran/ jogged and threw with the team Monday, the day after sustaining his injury. But with the Dolphins playing the Ravens on Thursday, Gase thought it was a smart decision to allow Cutler to rest and have Matt Moore start.

Under Moore’s guidance, the offense sustained what Gase called one of their three embarrassing losses — Baltimore, New York Jets (20-6) and New Orleans (20-0).

The problem is Cutler was the quarterback for the Jets and Saints losses.

The offense, and Cutler, will likely be aided this week by the return of wide receiver DeVante Parker, who has missed the past three games with an ankle injury.

Left guard Ted Larsen, on the injured reserve list since sustaining a biceps injury in training camp, could return to practice this week.