NFL Rumors: Jay Cutler, Colin Kaepernick An Option For Miami Dolphins?

After missing the end of last season, there is a concern that Ryan Tannehill could miss the entire 2017 NFL season. With former starting quarterbacks still unsigned, the Miami Dolphins have a few options.

Colin Kaepernick is a possibility for Miami, still looking for a job after being released by the San Francisco 49ers. The Dolphins could also choose to consider a quarterback that wasn’t expected to suit up ever again. The latest rumors suggest that Jay Cutler is interested in making a return to the NFL.

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The 2016 season was supposed to be the last of Cutler’s career. He retired from the NFL to join FOX Sports as a broadcaster. However, the chance to earn the salary of a starting quarterback could bring him back to the league for at least one more year, according to ESPN's Jeff Darlington.

With more than a month remaining until the regular season begins, Miami is considering what to do with their franchise quarterback. Tannehill didn’t undergo full reconstructive knee surgery after spraining his ACL and MCL last December. He re-injured the knee Thursday in practice, though an MRI didn’t show a full tear.

The Dolphins and Tannehill will have to make a decision within the next few days--hope that a few weeks of rest does the trick, or opt for surgery and concede that the quarterback won’t return until 2018.

Before going down with an injury last year, Tannehill was having the best season of his career. Under head coach Adam Gase, he posted career highs with a 93.5 passer rating and a 67.1 completion percentage in 13 games. Miami made the playoffs for the first time in eight years.

Backup quarterback Matt Moore took over for Tannehill, and he was more than serviceable at the end of the regular season with a 105.6 passer rating. He struggled in the team’s one playoff game as Miami lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-12.

At his best, Cutler was certainly better than Moore. He had his best year in 2015 when Gase was the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears, posting a 92.3 passer rating with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

With Cutler’s inconsistencies and injury history, there’s no guarantee they’ll be getting the 2015 version of the quarterback. He played poorly as he missed 11 games in 2016, and he hasn’t played 16 games since 2009.

Cutler announced his retirement in May, and it was reported that the former quarterback would be paired with announcer Kevin Burkhardt in the broadcast booth. He’s expected to replace John Lynch, who has since moved on to become San Francisco’s general manager. At the time, Cutler called the move “permanent.”

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ESPN’s Josina Anderson reported that Kaepernick’s name was raised in the front office when discussing possible replacements for Tannehill. In 12 games last year, Kaepernick threw for 2,241 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Miami’s first preseason game is scheduled for Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons. The Dolphins play their first regular season game on Sept. 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.