Dolphins Reach Out To Jay Cutler
The Dolphins are already looking for insurance in the event that Ryan Tannehill has to miss games. The team reached out to former Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, according to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald. 
After finding a tepid market this spring, Cutler retired from football and joined the NFL on FOX’s broadcast team. He indicated that he was most likely done playing, but he could maybe be persuaded to return if he can jump in with a potential playoff team like the Dolphins.
Of course, Cutler and coach Adam Gase have some shared history. Gase was Cutler’s offensive coordinator in 2015 when the QB threw 25 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. It turns out Gase personally reached out to Cutler shortly after Tannehill suffered his injury.
Coach Adam Gase has been in contact with Cutler personally the pasty two days as the two men have worked on rekindling a relationship that helped Cutler throw 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2015 when he was the starting QB for Chicago and Gase was the offensive coordinator
The Dolphins have reached out to “multiple” QBs, according to Salguero, but Cutler is the most prominent one of the bunch so far. That probably means that Colin Kaepernick has not been contacted. Other noteworthy available QBs include Robert Griffin III, Christian Ponder, and Shaun Hill.
Now that Cutler is in play for Miami, one has to wonder if the Dolphins might also try and lure CBS broadcaster Tony Romo out of retirement.
Fins Fear Ryan Tannehill Will Miss Season
The Dolphins’ “fear” is that quarterback Ryan Tannehill will have to undergo season-ending surgery on his left knee, according to Adam Schefter and Jeff Darlington of ESPN. They haven’t made a decision yet, however, and Tannehill could choose to rest for six to weight weeks in lieu of surgery.
A few reports have trickled in regarding Tannehill’s knee since he departed practice on Thursday. While one of those has been positive, the majority have offered pessimistic outlooks, which is the case here. Tannehill has injured his left knee twice since last December, when he partially tore his ACL and had to sit out the Dolphins’ final three regular-season games and their wild-card round loss to the Steelers.
Darlington reported earlier Thursday that there are some Dolphins officials who would like Tannehill to undergo surgery as a way to put his left knee problems behind him for good, and a source told him and Schefter that “[Tannehill’s] done, I think,” in regards to his chances of playing this year. Another informed the reporters that Tannehill’s knee is “a ticking time bomb that was going to go off at any time.”
Even in a best-case scenario, it seems the Dolphins could go without Tannehill until sometime in October, which would leave them with Matt Moore as their only experienced quarterback. Moore performed admirably in Tannehill’s stead down the stretch last season, but he hasn’t started extensively since his first year with the Dolphins in 2011. While Miami could choose to ride it out with Moore under center, it’ll still look for insurance at the position. The retired Jay Cutler is reportedly willing to table his fledgling broadcasting career to play for the Dolphins and reunite with head coach Adam Gase, who meshed nicely with the signal-caller as the Bears’ offensive coordinator in 2015. However, the 34-year-old Cutler would only return if the Dolphins were to guarantee him a starting job for the entire season.
Unlike Cutler, other options won’t be in position to demand a starting job at this point. Colin Kaepernick, who has drawn some interest from the Dolphins, is one possibility. Robert Griffin III, Christian Ponder, Shaun Hill and Zach Mettenberger are also among the league’s unemployed QBs. No one from that group has ties to Gase, though veteran Browns backup Brock Osweiler does from their days together in Denver. Osweiler might end up on the outs in Cleveland in the coming weeks if he doesn’t win its starting job, which could make him a Dolphins target.
Regardless of where Miami goes from here, it’s now in a disastrous situation on the heels of its first playoff season since 2008. Tannehill was instrumental in the Dolphins’ success last season, and he has served as a capable starter since they chose him eighth overall in the 2012 draft. The ex-Texas A&M standout fared well enough earlier in his career for the Dolphins to hand him a four-year, $77MM extension prior to the 2015 campaign. Tannehill’s under team control through 2020 as a result.
Jay Cutler Interested In Dolphins
After encountering a tepid market for his services in free agency this year, longtime quarterback Jay Cutler elected to walk away from football in May and pursue a career in broadcasting. Three months later, the 34-year-old is having second thoughts. If Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill‘s left knee injury proves to be major, Cutler would be willing to sign with the team as a full-time starter, reports Jeff Darlington of ESPN.com.
Miami is the only team for which Cutler would consider resuming his NFL career, and he’s not coming back if it means sitting on the bench, per Darlington. The Dolphins haven’t considered signing him yet, adds Darlington, but Cutler already has a good relationship with head coach Adam Gase. The two worked together to positive results in 2015, Gase’s only season as the Bears’ offensive coordinator. That year will go down as Cutler’s last productive campaign if he doesn’t leave the FOX broadcasting booth to return to the gridiron.
A potential Cutler pursuit will be moot if Tannehill’s knee doesn’t end up being a problem. Since he left practice Thursday, optimistic and pessimistic reports have surfaced regarding Tannehill’s status. The 29-year-old missed the tail end of last season with a partially torn left ACL, and while the severity of the injury he suffered Thursday in the same knee is unknown, Dolphins officials do regard it as a setback, writes Darlington. Moreover, there are some within the organization who believe Tannehill should go under the knife to fully repair his knee once and for all. If that were to happen, Tannehill likely wouldn’t play at all in 2017, which could set up a Cutler-Gase reunion and leave FOX short a color commentator.
Dolphins Could Look For O-line Aid
- Dolphins guard Ted Larsen will be a candidate to begin the season on injured reserve if his biceps does prove to be torn, writes Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. In that case, the Dolphins could check in on the free agent and trade markets for help at the position, suggests Jackson, who notes that ex-Miami Hurricane Orlando Franklin would have interest in signing with the team. Franklin’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, reached out to the Dolphins earlier this offseason, but they were content with their guard situation at the time. Franklin was most recently with the Saints, who cut the cord shortly after signing him – partly because of a knee injury.
Surgery Possible For Ryan Tannehill
While there was a hopeful report on Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill‘s injured left knee earlier Thursday, he’s not in the clear yet, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. An MRI on Tannehill’s knee came back inconclusive, writes Salguero, who hears that “all options remain on the table” – including surgery. Tannehill will go for a second opinion, adds Albert Breer of The MMQB (Twitter link).
Tannehill departed practice Thursday on the heels of a non-contact injury, after which the Dolphins feared the worst, per Salguero. If the 29-year-old’s knee issue actually does require him to miss time, it would force Miami to check into free agent options – whether they’re low-profile types or more polarizing options such as Colin Kaepernick, Robert Griffin III, Jay Cutler and Tony Romo. While Cutler and Romo are retired, the Dolphins could still kick the tires on either should Tannehill’s injury prove serious. Cutler, Chicago’s longtime starter, has a connection to Dolphins head coach Adam Gase, who was the Bears’ offensive coordinator in 2015.
As of now, the only healthy QBs on the Dolphins’ roster are Matt Moore, David Fales (one of Cutler’s ex-Chicago teammates) and 2016 seventh-round pick Brandon Doughty. Moore, to his credit, is a better reserve option than most – he stepped in late last season after Tannehill succumbed to a partial ACL tear and helped the Dolphins to a 2-1 finish en route to a 10-6 record. Moore completed 55 of 87 passes, averaged 8.3 yards per attempt and tossed eight touchdowns against three interceptions in his four appearances (three starts). The 32-year-old was also at the helm for the Dolphins’ wild-card round game against the Steelers, and while he fared OK statistically (29 of 36 for 289 yards with a touchdown and a pick), his club was on the wrong end of a 30-12 decision.
Ted Larsen May Have Torn Biceps
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill wasn’t the only Dolphin to suffer an injury Thursday. Guard Ted Larsen left practice with what the team fears is a torn biceps, reports Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). The likelihood is that Larsen will miss “several” regular-season games, per Jackson.
The Dolphins signed Larsen as the outset of free agency in March, and he immediately became a strong contender to start at left guard for the club. The 30-year-old brings plenty of experience to the table, having combined to start in 65 of 102 appearances as a Buccaneer, Cardinal and Bear from 2010-16. In Chicago last year, Larsen posted the fifth 16-game slate of his career and logged eight starts, during which he ranked a respectable 37th in performance among Pro Football Focus’ 75 qualified guards.
As they brace for a prolonged Larsen absence, the Dolphins will go forward with Anthony Steen, Kraig Urbik and fifth-round pick Isaac Asiata as potential options opposite No. 1 right guard Jermon Bushrod. Steen started seven games at center in 2016 while Mike Pouncey was on the shelf. Fortunately for Miami, there’s hope that the hip issues which have troubled Pouncey in the past won’t cause problems this year.
Latest On Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill
The Dolphins got a scare on Thursday morning when Ryan Tannehill exited practice after a non-contact injury. We’re still waiting on the full diagnosis, but the early word this afternoon is positive. There is no structural damage in Tannehill’s knee, a source tells Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
[RELATED: Dolphins Considering Colin Kaepernick]
The lack of structural damage indicates that Tannehill can probably avoid surgery, which should cut down on recovery time. Tannehill missed the last three games of the 2016 season and the team’s wild-card loss in the playoffs and they’re hoping to avoid a similar fate with the latest knee ailment.
Last year, Tannehill graded out as the league’s 16th best quarterback, per the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus. His 80.9 score was a career-low and a step back from his peak years in 2013 and 2014.
Dolphins Considering Colin Kaepernick
Doctors are still looking into the extent of Ryan Tannehill‘s knee injury, but the Dolphins are already weighing some outside options. Colin Kaepernick‘s name was raised within the Dolphins’ front office as potential insurance, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. 
Of course, Kaepernick’s name has probably been internally “raised” by a number of teams this offseason, but that alone doesn’t mean much considering that he has gotten only one workout all offseason long. What Kaepernick does have going for him, however, is that owner Stephen Ross has vocalized his support for him in the past.
“I would sure hope not,” Ross said recently when asked whether Kaepernick is being blackballed from the league. “I know a lot’s been written about it, but you know owners and coaches—they’ll do anything it takes to win. If they think he can help them win, I’m sure—I would hope they would sign him.”
Last year, Kaepernick’s 49ers put up a solid effort against the Dolphins in a late November game in Miami. The QB completed 29 of 46 passes for 296 yards and three touchdowns and one interception, but the Dolphins ultimately won by a score of 31-24.
After Tannehill, the Dolphins’ top backups are Matt Moore and David Fales.
Dolphins Fear Worst For Ryan Tannehill
On Thursday morning, Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill left the practice field after a non-contact injury, sparking speculation everywhere that he might have suffered a serious ligament tear. We’re still waiting on an update, but right now the Dolphins are “fearing the worst,” according to Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald (on Twitter).
At minimum, Tannehill is dealing with a hyperextended left knee, Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald hears. Beyond that, it’s possible that Tannehill has suffered anything from a PCL sprain (two to eight weeks recovery) to an ACL tear (a season ender).
The Dolphins abstained from making major QB additions this offseason, potentially out of respect for Tannehill. If Tannehill is injured, it seems likely that the team will look for outside help. As of this writing, the next two QBs on the roster are 33-year-old Matt Moore and 26-year-old David Fales.
Colin Kaepernick is the biggest name left on the free agent board and there has been a great deal of focus on former Redskins standout Robert Griffin III as well.
In theory, Tony Romo and Jay Cutler are also available, but they both say that they are likely done playing.
“There is zero doubt in my mind that there is going to be some regret,” Cutler, a new member of FOX’s NFL broadcast team, said earlier this year. “I have no doubt in my mind come the middle of August, September there is going to be that itch to play. There is going to be part of me that I know I can still do it. But that’s not how the cards played out, and that’s not where we are at. I just don’t feel comfortable with a situation in August or September of jumping back into it, even if that situation arises, which I don’t think it’s going to.”
Tannehill also injured his knee in Week 14 of last season, but he was able to avoid surgery for his partially torn ACL and Grade 2 MCL sprain.
Dolphins' Isaiah Ford Suffers Injury
- Dolphins seventh round wide receiver Isaiah Ford has suffered a setback that may end up costing him a spot on the 53-man roster. Ford has meniscus damage that will require surgery, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald writes, and depending on the extent of the tear, he’ll either miss the remainder of training camp or potentially the entire season. Lately, Ford has been gaining traction as a backup possibility in the slot.