Miami Dolphins QB Ryan Tannehill was limited in practice Wednesday, according to the team's official injury report. He has been battered through the first two games of the season, and that has left him with an injured throwing shoulder.
Tannehill hurt the shoulder early in the third quarter on Sunday, when Miami beat the Indianapolis Colts 24-20. He was hit from behind on the play, a sack that resulted in a fumble.
Though he was able to finish the game (and throw for over 300 yards in the process), the Dolphins are playing it very safe with their franchise quarterback. Miami has an off-day on Thursday, it is possible that the team wanted to give his shoulder some extra hours of rest.
Dolphins head coach Joe Philbin does not comment on injuries.
Tannehill has been sacked 9 times over the first two weeks of the season. Only three teams have given up as many sacks as Miami, the Jets (9 sacks), Jaguars, and Browns (11 each). Those three teams have just one win combined.
On Wednesday Tannehill told the Miami Herald that the sacks are at least partially his fault, not wanting to blame his offensive line.
"When I have all the time in the world [to throw the ball], it's completely on me," Tannehill said."There's a couple where I need to step up a half-step, and it's not a sack at all. It's not like Iām getting a sack from everywhere and every time I step back I'm getting pressure."
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Miami gave up 37 sacks last season, a half-sack above the NFL average. LT Jake Long (Miami's former first-overall draft pick) left the team via free-agency in the offseason, causing a shuffle on the line that moved second-year tackle Jonathan Martin to the left side. Veteran free agent Tyson Clabo was acquired this summer to play the right side.
The offensive line has yet to match its 2012 production, when it gave up far fewer sacks per game and helped the Dolphins gain 4.1 yards per rush (which was only the 19th best average in the league). Miami has averaged just 2.4 yards per rush through the first two weeks.
In addition to Tannehill, starters Koa Misi and Dimitri Patterson were limited in practice, plus four reserves. For the second day in a row, both DT Paul Soliai and S Chris Clemons missed practice. Soliai is dealing with a knee injury, while Clemons has a hamstring injury.
