It was just a routine scramble for Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, one he’d replicate in any game situation and one, with his natural athleticism and speed, is usually no problem. Wednesday at Miami Dolphins practice it was and now, if the worst has happened, Tannehill could miss the entire 2017 season.
There are conflicting reports and I’ll sort through them for you. The first is from the NFL Network, who says that an MRI after practice showed no structural damage to Tannehill’s left knee. It’s the same left knee that cost him the end of last season and ultimately any lengthy stay in the playoffs for Miami.
Dolphins Ryan Tannehill went down after scrambling to the sidelines. He fell awkwardly on what could be his left leg, where he has a brace.
— James Walker (@JamesWalkerNFL) August 3, 2017
ESPN is reporting that the Dolphins have a legit fear that Tannehill might need surgery to repair a partially torn ACL. He’s going to get a second and third opinion. If he doesn’t need surgery, the fear is he’ll still have to sit out the next six to eight weeks of action. That means he’d miss at least the first two weeks of the regular season if not the first four weeks. And what if he takes all that time and the knee gives out again?
Tannehill and the Dolphins may have screwed up in not going under the knife after the injury when it happened near the end of last season. I understand they hoped he’d be ready for the playoffs, but that didn’t work out. After a few weeks of rehab, Tannehill felt better, but obviously there were some concerns. He was still wearing a knee brace after all.
On source went as far to tell ESPN that Tannehill was done. Another said that Tannehill’s knee has been a “ticking time bomb.”
With a quarterback going down, even if it’s for two months, you immediately know what that means. Yes, the Colin Kaepernick alarm has sounded throughout the punditsphere. Would he be a good fit for the Dolphins? Yes and no.
https://twitter.com/jnsanchez/status/893157546365726721
Yes, he’d be a solid addition to their roster. Currently Miami’s depth chart looks like this behind Tannehill; Matt Moore, Brandon Doughty and David Fales.
Fales is likely just a camp arm and Moore is undoubtedly better than Kaepernick. Kap would never beat him out. Brandon Doughty, though. I’d definitely feel a hell of a lot better going to battle with Moore, Kaepernick and Doughty than Moore, Doughty and Fales. Kaepernick actually got shit a few years ago for wearing a Miami Dolphins hat. Maybe it was a premonition?
The truth is, this would have been a perfect spot for Austin Davis, but the Seahawks already grabbed him. Really, with Moore already on the roster, Kaepernick is the best option of the remaining guys. Especially when you look at the running attack Miami can unleash with Jay Ajai.
One silver lining to the Tannehill injury is that Kaepernick already has a Dolphins hat. pic.twitter.com/7OCgoc73zQ
— Dolfans NYC (@DolfansNYC) August 3, 2017
This could also force the Baltimore Ravens to stop screwing around and sign Kaepernick themselves. He’d be a much better fit for them anyway and regardless of how much their owner, Steve Bisciotti, wants to wring his hands about it to sell it to the dumber end of his fanbase. Trust me, the city of Baltimore would be glad to have Kaepernick a Raven.
Frank Clark still has anger issues
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark managed to avoid any fallout from a domestic violence accusation leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft. That doesn’t mean his issues with anger and letting his fists fly are in the past.
Thursday, Clark was booted from Seahawks practice after an altercation where he punched offensive tackle German Ifedi. Clark wasn’t even involved in the initial scuffle, which began between defensive tackle Rodney Cole and offensive lineman Will Pericak.
Michael Bennett re: fights — players crossed the line today. Says his message to frank Clark will be to go apologize to Ifedi. pic.twitter.com/VWor06jukA
— Dugar, Michael-Shawn (@MikeDugar) August 3, 2017
“I’m disappointed we had a couple guys get after it today,” Carroll said after practice. “There is no room for fighting in football. It is not part of this game, not supposed to be part of this game. And we frown upon that very heavily, so real disappointed that that happened today. We have to learn and get better and be right.”
In better Seahawks news, rookie second round pick Malik McDowell reported to camp Thursday. McDowell missed the first few days of work after suffering an injury in an ATV accident during the off-season. Carroll reportedly described McDowell’s injuries as a “long term issue” and didn’t commit to him playing in 2017.
Other NFL News
Former Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker won’t be looking at any charges stemming from a sexual assault allegation in the off-season. Walker is currently a free agent after being cut by the Rams once the charges surfaced. Walker, if he does land on a new team, will begin his sixth NFL season this fall. He’s previously spent three seasons with the New Orleans Saints and two with the Detroit Lions. In his career, he has 63 tackles, 3.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble. He’s started in 13 games and played in 42.
The San Francisco 49ers cut wide receiver Bruce Ellington Thursday. Ellington missed the entire 2016 season with a hamstring tear. Ellington was a fourth round pick for the 49ers back in 2014. He mostly played special teams and served as the team’s primary kick and punt returner in 2014 and 2015.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed free agent safety Corey Graham to a one-year contract. Graham was the starting safety for the Buffalo Bills for the last two and a half seasons. He’s about to enter his 11th season. Last year he recorded 83 tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, nine passes defended and one pick for the Bills.
The New Orleans Saints claimed former Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Jerry Ugokwe off the waiver wire Thursday.
Ik Enemkpali, the guy who punched Geno Smith’s lights out and made the New York Jets a winner for at least a season, was signed to a one-year deal by the Oakland Raiders. Enemkpali, a defensive end in the Raiders’ scheme, Enemkpali never played a down last seaoson and last appeared in an NFL game in 2015 with the Buffalo Bills. The Raiders also signed linebacker Rufus Johnson. Johnson too never played any last year and was actually just recently in a car accident. He did see action in a game with the 2015 New England Patriots, recording one whole tackle.
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