Lost in the conversation about what the Pittsburgh Steelers have to do to win this weekend is one of the most basic questions: who will be the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback?
That’s an answer they don’t seem to currently have the answer to. Head coach Adam Gase spoke to their local media today and said he wouldn’t rule Ryan Tannehill out but that he has to get an update on him medically before determining how to go forward.
“I need to know what his movement skills are, where we are as far as really the structure of his knee and things like that,” Gase said, per the Palm Beach Post. “But I know since Matt (Moore)’s been in there, he’s done a really good job and he’s done exactly what I need him to do.”
Gase would not rule Tannehill out to practice this week and obviously, with the time he’s missed, he’s going to need to get in some reps during the week if he wants to play on Sunday. Tannehill sprained his ACL and MCL on December 11th and has not played since. After avoiding a dreaded ACL tear, the team has been optimistic about getting him back for the playoff race.
“I’ll have a better idea, especially once we hit Wednesday, but probably Tuesday I’ll have a good idea, so game plan-wise we can figure out what’s going on,” Gase said.
He threw for 254 yards in the previous meeting with the Steelers, a 30-15 win for the Dolphins. If he can’t go, veteran Matt Moore will start in his place. He’s gone 2-1 replacing him, throwing eight touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s never played against the Steelers before.
Reporters at the Palm Beach Post say that Tannehill is no longer in any protective equipment on his leg and walking only with a “very slight” limp. That’s far from the end-all about his chances of playing, the knee still has to be stable if it’s flexed, but Tannehill seems to have about 50/50 odds of suiting up this weekend. Meaning Pittsburgh will have to prepare for both quarterbacks.
