Another game for Dolphins without QB Tannehill
All the good feelings earned by the Miami Dolphins for their 3-0 start are now officially and completely gone.
That’s what happens when a team loses four of five games and two in a row. That’s what happens when you’re the 4-4 Dolphins and are desperate for a win.
The good news for the Dolphins is that the 3-5 New York Jets will visit them on Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium. The Jets have also lost two in a row.
New York appears to be in even worse shape than Miami, at least for the present. The Jets have a rookie quarterback and a long list of injuries that have left Sam Darnold with little in the way of playmakers.
Not that the Dolphins feel sorry for the Jets.
The Dolphins have their own issues, starting with quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s shoulder injury that will force him to miss his fourth straight game.
He will be replaced by Brock Osweiler, who is 1-2 this season as a starter.
Dolphins head coach Adam Gase, never a media darling, has grown more and more frustrated with the constant Tannehill questions.
“You’re asking me all the questions I don’t want to get asked anymore,” Gase said when the Tannehill subject was broached. “I haven’t gone down there to watch him do anything. The trainers talk to me. It sounds like he is close to the stage where he could start throwing soon.”
Five key Dolphins are on injured reserve: center Daniel Kilgore (arm); guard Josh Sitton (shoulder); defensive end William Hayes (knee); defensive tackle Vincent Taylor (foot); and wide receiver Albert Wilson (hip).
In addition, four key Dolphins are expected to be listed as questionable for the Jets game: wide receiver Kenny Stills (groin); center Ted Larsen (arm); tight end A.J. Derby (foot); and defensive end Charles Harris (calf).
But even with all those injuries, Miami should have enough to thwart a Jets attack that went three-and-out on six of their first eight possessions against the Chicago Bears this past Sunday. New York averaged 2.4 yards per rush and made seven pre-snap penalties, including five false starts by the offense.
However, the Dolphins, who won at the Jets 20-12 on Sept. 16, have struggled defensively lately, and Gase is no doubt concerned.
“You can say all you want about scheme,” Gase said, “But all of that doesn’t matter if we don’t play what we’re supposed to play.”
SERIES HISTORY: 106th regular-season meeting. Jets lead series, 54-50-1. Rivals since 1966, these AFC East teams meet again, with the Dolphins going for their third straight win in the series. During that two-game win streak, the Dolphins have used three quarterbacks – Jay Cutler last year and then Matt Moore when he got hurt and then Ryan Tannehill this season. On Sunday, the Dolphins will try to keep the streak going with a fourth QB, Brock Osweiler.
