The Dolphins received bad news when they found out that David Garrard would need knee surgery. Garrard, a free agent acquisition who missed all of last season with a back injury, was considered the favorite for the starting job and looked very good in Training Camp. However, Garrard will miss 2-4 weeks with the injury, which makes it much more likely that Matt Moore or Ryan Tannehill will be the starting quarterback, even though Garrard probably could play week 1 if needed.

However, this probably won’t be a huge hit to the Dolphins. Matt Moore proved himself to be capable last season, going 6-6, as he completed 210 of 347 (60.5%) for 2497 yards (7.2 YPA), 16 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions and he probably was the better choice for the job all along. Moore could, of course, regress, which would force Ryan Tannehill out into action before he’s ready and that could lead to this being a lost season for the Dolphins. However, if Moore keeps it up, they could follow the solid quarterback, good running game, good defense, easy schedule model and sneak into the playoffs in the inferior AFC at 9-7 or so.

As for Garrard, it’s likely he gets cut. Owed a non-guaranteed 2.25 million if he makes the final roster, he’s too expensive to be just a 2^nd or 3^rd string quarterback. The Dolphins won’t pay Moore, Garrard, and Tannehill and it’s been a known fact pretty much all along that the loser of the Moore/Garrard battle would be cut or traded. It’s unlikely anyone would trade for Garrard now though.

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]