An eye injury causing blurred vision for starter Chad Henne found rookie backup quarterback Pat White in charge and trailing 27-10 to start the second half of today's game against the Steelers.
He wasn't in the game for long. White was immobilized and carted off the field with his own, much scarier head injury about 2 minutes into the third quarter following a helmet-to-helmet collision on a 7-yard keeper with Pittsburgh cornerback Ike Taylor.
The Dolphins' day wouldn't get much better, though for a brief moment it appeared third-string QB Tyler Thigpen, who hadn't thrown an NFL pass since Week 17 of last season with the Chiefs, might complete a rousing comeback attempt.
The second-year NFL vet led the Dolphins on two consecutive scoring drives, coming within a field goal of the Steelers, before he seemingly remembered he was a Dolphin and threw back-to-back picks. Still, with a year at the helm in Kansas City under his belt, Thigpen was clearly better suited to run the offense in Henne's absence than White, who has yet to complete his first pass.
By the second interception, however, which Pittsburgh punctuated with a field goal with :40 remaining, Miami was playing for pride only. The Patriots had already lost to the Texans, officially eliminating Miami's already-slim playoffs hopes.
The 30-24 loss must feel even worse for some Dolphins. Joey Porter, playing against his former team in what may be his final game in aqua and orange, was mocked by Ike Taylor following Thigpen's game-ending interception. Taylor imitated Porter's trademark celebratory kick, such as it is, and then stared him down (perhaps Porter should bring up the Steelers' own playoffs chances).
As for White, he's likely to remember this day for some time, if he can in fact remember anything at all. After an audible crunch, he landed on his stomach on the Pittsburgh sidelines, where Steelers players and Dolphins tackle Jake Long immediately began waving for help, and curled up onto his side.
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The former West Virginia star moved his legs slightly before being lifted onto a waiting cart, where he was observed moving his hands.
White has been taken to Broward General Hospital for evaluation, though a team spokesman said he was okay "in terms of movement."
If only we could say the same of the Dolphins.
