MIAMI GARDENS, FL – OCTOBER 14: Miami Dolphins Quarterback Brock Osweiler (8) throws the ball during the NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Miami Dolphins on October 14, 2018 at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
After Ryan Tannehill missed Sunday’s game, Dolphins head coach Adam Gase is advancing the idea Brock Osweiler will make more starts.
Late additions to the injury report are never a good sign. So when Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill was declared questionable with a right shoulder injury on Friday, it was not too far a stretch to his ultimately being inactive on Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Brock Osweiler got the start in Tannehill’s place, and produced well (380 yards, three touchdowns) in Miami’s somewhat surprising victory.
Head coach Adam Gase was oddly testy when asked about Tannehill during his postgame press conference, citing HIPAA law about injury disclosure.
On Monday, Gase was a little softer, but he still didn’t offer much clarity on Tannehill’s status going forward. Gase did say he expects Tannehill to play again this season, which is not surprising. And if there was any semblance of a quarterback controversy after Osweiler’s performance on Sunday, Gase declared that Tannehill will be the starter when he does return. But for now, Tannehill is merely “day-to-day.”
Osweiler really made hay in the second half and overtime on Sunday, with 266 yards after halftime as the Dolphins trailed by no more than 11 in the third quarter. Two fourth quarter touchdown passes to Albert Wilson accounted for 118 of those yards.
It’s worth noting that Gase was quarterbacks coach then offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos for Osweiler’s first three NFL seasons (2012-2014), which bred the familiarity for a reunion in Miami with Osweiler as Tannehill’s backup. But a spotlight was put on Osweiler’s shortcomings with the Houston Texans in 2016 (15 games-14 starts), then in four starts back with the Broncos last year.
Gase is talking like Tannehill, who has now played just five of the Dolphins last 26 games (counting the playoffs), will miss more than a single game with a sprained AC joint in his throwing shoulder. A 4-2 record (however flimsy) offers some leeway, but Osweiler starting multiple games is a scary prospect for Dolphins’ fans and a blow to any idea the team will stay in the playoff race.