Miami Dolphins quarterback David Garrard will undergo knee surgery in the coming days, likely ending his bid to become the team's starter when it opens the 2012 season on September 9. He had been slated to start the Dolphins' first preseason game on Friday, but Matt Moore will take his place with the first team.
Garrard told Fox Sports the surgery will take place Saturday morning, and that the surgery is not related to any specific injury. "Nothing happened," he said. "Just 'Father Time,' wear and tear. They have to take out loose things floating around."
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By most accounts, Garrard was the early leader in the three-man quarterback race that also includes Moore (who started the final 12 games of the 2011 season) and first-round draft pick Ryan Tannehill. Now it looks like the race is down to those two, as Garrard's recovery could take up to 4 weeks (2 weeks minimum), nowhere near enough time for him to continue getting ready for the regular season.'
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The Dolphins signed Garrard to a free-agent contract over the offseason. He spent 2011 out of football after the Jacksonville Jaguars cut him in training camp. Garrard spent all of his 9-year career to that point with Jacksonville, earning a trip to the 2010 Pro Bowl.
This is not the first time Garrard has been derailed by injury. Jacksonville cut him last year in part because of worries that his back could not hold up to a full season of NFL play. Garrard had surgery to repair a herniated disk while sitting out the 2011 season.
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The Dolphins face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Friday night, the team's first preseason game of the 2012 season.
