Dolphins Notes: Tannehill, James, Parker
The Dolphins will have a lot of tough decisions to make this offseason, including what to do with Ryan Tannehill. Tannehill is set to have a cap hit of over $26MM in 2019, hasn’t been able to stay healthy, and hasn’t been great on the field even when he is. Deciding Tannehill’s fate “clearly tops” the list of Miami’s priorities for the offseason, according to Adam Beasley of The Miami Herald, who writes “Tannehill would need to be exceptional when he returns from his shoulder injury” for the Dolphins to bring him back at that salary next year.
Tannehill missed the end of the 2016 season with a torn ACL, then missed all of the 2017 season when he re-tore the ACL. This year, Tannehill started the first five games, then went down with a mysterious shoulder injury. He’s been sidelined for four games, and it’s not clear when he’s coming back. It’s still very early, but at this point it would be a surprise if Tannehill is brought back at his current cap number. For what it’s worth, Beasley writes that the Dolphins like Saints quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
- Speaking of decisions the Dolphins have to make, they’ll also have to decide the fate of receiver DeVante Parker and right tackle Ja’Wuan James this offseason, according to Beasley. Parker is owed $9.4MM next year, and Beasley writes that keeping him “seems unlikely now, but if he strings together several games like the one last Thursday in Houston (six catches, 134 yards), it becomes a strong consideration.” James will be a free agent after this season, and Beasley writes that “unless he’s great the final eight games, the Dolphins again figure to explore outside options” this March.
Tannehill Out Next Two Weeks?
- Speaking of quarterbacks, Ryan Tannehill will miss his fourth straight game this weekend when the Dolphins play the Jets, and it looks like he’ll be out beyond this week. Tannehill is not expected back for the team’s Week 10 game against the Packers, according to Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). It sounds like the earliest Tannehill could return would be after Miami’s bye week, in Week 12. Coach Adam Gase revealed the nature of Tannehill’s injury for the first time today, describing it as a “shoulder capsule” injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/18
Here are today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated to return to practice from IR: TE Noah Brown
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR River Cracraft
- Waived: WR Isaiah McKenzie
Miami Dolphins
- Activated off IR: C Jake Brendel
New York Jets
- Activated from PUP: S Rontez Miles
- Waived: S Ibraheim Campbell
Oakland Raiders
- Placed On IR: OT T.J. Clemmings
Dolphins’ Cordrea Tankersley Out For Year
Dolphins cornerback Cordrea Tankersley is out for the year with a torn ACL, head coach Adam Gase announced. Tankersley will be placed on injured reserve with a targeted return in 2019. 
Tankersley suffered the injury during practice on Thursday. It’s a bad blow to an already iffy secondary that has allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete 66.8% of their passes.
Tankersley, a 2017 third-round pick, started 11 games for the Dolphins as a rookie. This year, he has taken on more of a reserve role with an emphasis on special teams. The Dolphins will move forward with Xavien Howard and Bobby McCain as their starters with Torry McTyer and rookie Cornell Armstrong as the backups, but they’ll probably add another corner to the mix soon.
The Dolphins are 4-4 after dropping their last two games. They’ll look to get back in the win column when they take on the Jets in Miami on Sunday.
Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill Ruled Out
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is officially out again for this week’s game against the Jets, Dolphins coach Adam Gase announced on Wednesday. Gase added that Tannehill has been throwing with trainers and the option of surgery on his injured shoulder has not yet been discussed. 
The Dolphins remain hopeful that Tannehill will return at some point this season, but there’s no definitive timeline for his return either. Sunday’s absence will mark Tannehill’s fourth consecutive missed game.
Tannehill’s ongoing issue could impact his future with the Dolphins beyond 2018. His status with the team in 2019 is “not settled,” according to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald, who hears that the QB has not lived up to the expectations set for him before the start of the season. In five games this season, Tannehill has thrown for 972 yards, eight touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Without Tannehill, the Dolphins will turn to Brock Osweiler once again. Although Osweiler showed flashes of what made him such a valued free agent a few years ago, he was unable to deliver against his old friends in Houston on Sunday. Osweiler completed just 21 of 37 passes for 241 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception as the Dolphins lost 42-23 to the Texans.
Dolphins Sign DT Sylvester Williams
The Dolphins announced the signing of defensive tackle Sylvester Williams on Wednesday morning. They’ve also activated linebacker Mike Hull off injured reserve, giving the front seven a bit of a midseason lift. 
Williams started eleven games and made 15 total appearances for the Titans last year, his first campaign outside of Denver since the Broncos made him a first-round pick in 2014. He was strong against the run in 2017, but he didn’t fare well with the Lions this year. Last week, Detroit cut him loose after trading for Damon Harrison.
At the time of his release, Williams ranked as Pro Football Focus’ No. 78 overall defensive tackle in the league with a subpar score for run defense. He didn’t fill the traditional stat sheet much either with six tackles in six games.
Last season, Williams played on roughly a third of the Titans’ defensive snaps, good for third-most among the club’s defensive linemen. Pro Football Focus gave him high marks against the run and some not-so-great marks for his work on passing downs.
NFL Workout Updates: 10/30/18
Here’s the latest from the workout circuit. All links to veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer’s Twitter account, unless otherwise specified.
Arizona Cardinals
- OT Cornelius Lucas, OT Derek Newton, DT Will Sutton, DT Vincent Valentine
Baltimore Ravens
- LB Ejuan Price
Chicago Bears
- C Luke Bowanko, OG Adam Gettis, LB Lorenzo Mauldin, LB Aaron Wallace
Cleveland Browns
- OG David Bright
- DE Alex Barrett, LB Jonathan Freeny, CB Jalen Myrick, LB Kelvin Sheppard
Green Bay Packers
- T Andrew Nelson, LB Anthony Winbush
Jacksonville Jaguars
- TE Troy Niklas
Miami Dolphins
- DT Joey Mbu, DE Kendall Reyes, DT Sylvester Williams
New Orleans Saints
- DE Robert Ayers, DE Tank Carradine, DE Will Clarke, CB Jeremiah McKinnon, S Obi Melifonwu, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, CB Marcus Williams
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/18
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DE Vontarrius Dora, OL Kyle Friend
- Released: DE Ufomba Kamalu, K Matt McCrane
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Xavier Woodson-Luster
- Released: LB Brady Sheldon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Ethan Wolf
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Steven Mitchell
- Released: WR Cyril Grayson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Maurice Smith
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OG Landon Turner
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Juston Burris
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: OT Jamar McGloster
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Tyrone Swoopes
- Released: OL JJ Dielman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Dare Ogunbowale
Dolphins Place DT Vincent Taylor On IR
Vincent Taylor is out for the foreseeable future. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Dolphins have placed the defensive tackle on the injured reserve.
The 24-year-old was carted off the field with a foot injury during Thursday’s loss to the Texans, and the ailment will presumably keep him off the field for the rest of the season. The Dolphins have already designated offensive lineman Jake Brendel and linebacker Mike Hull to return from the IR, so Taylor’s only hope of playing again this season is an injury settlement (and a contract from another team).
The 2017 sixth-round pick had emerged as one of Miami’s most reliable defensive linemen this season, compiling 27 tackles and a pair of sacks in eight games off the bench. Pro Football Focus was particularly fond of his performance this season, ranking him 24th among 109 interior defenders.
The Dolphins have already added some reinforcement at the position, as they signed Ziggy Hood earlier today. The former Redskins starter should have a chance to contribute right away for Miami, as he’ll join starters Davon Godchaux and Akeem Spence as the only healthy defensive tackles on the active roster.
Dolphins To Sign DT Ziggy Hood
The Dolphins have signed defensive tackle Ziggy Hood, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). Hood auditioned for the Dolphins on Tuesday morning and it did not take long for a deal to come together.
Hood, a one-time starter for the Redskins, profiles as a reserve for the Dolphins. Davon Godchaux and Akeem Spence start in the middle for the Dolphins, but Hood will be one of two true reserve defensive tackles for Miami. Incumbent backup Vincent Taylor has played well in the first half of the year, so it will be interesting to see how Hood’s arrival affects his usage.
The Dolphins, with Hood in tow, will face the Jets on Sunday.