Dolphins get news on Parker and Grant, while Tannehill inches toward potential return

The Dolphins on Monday moved a small step closer to getting back their starting quarterback and also learned that two receivers forced to the sidelines on Sunday did not sustain season-ending injuries.

After not throwing for a week, quarterback Ryan Tannehill attempted an undisclosed number of throws on Sunday and for the first time in a while, did not experience discomfort while throwing a football, according to coach Adam Gase.

The Dolphins remain hopeful, but hardly certainly, that Tannehill can play Nov. 25 at Indianapolis, following the team’s bye week.

Meanwhile, receivers Jakeem Grant and DeVante Parker underwent MRIs on Monday and neither has an injury that should sideline them for the rest of the season. Both are considered week-to-week.

Grant did not tear his Achilles’ tendon in Sunday’s loss at Green Bay, as initially feared, according to a source. Parker, meanwhile, was diagnosed with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, according to a league source. Neither injury requires surgery.

As for Tannehill, Sunday’s session marked “the start of their throwing progression after so many off [days],” Gase said. “It seemed like it went well. It’s not like he’s out there throwing 60-yard throws. They have a progression of how they want it to go. They said it was a good first step and he felt good. So that’s a positive.”

Tannehill has missed five games with a capsule injury in his right (throwing) shoulder.

Tannehill will throw multiple times this week, though the team did not reveal an exact schedule. If it goes well, he could return to practice next Monday.

“Right now, they’re trying to get to where every day, we’re not getting him saying, ‘I’m having pain,’” Gase said. “It’s the progression of when we hit Wednesday [Nov. 21], hopefully, we can get it where they are saying, ‘Let him practice. This is where you need to keep the throws at.’ Or they just say, ‘Let him go. He’ll be all right.’ I am waiting for those directives from those guys. If we can get through this week and he feels great every day, then we got a shot [for the Colts game].”

Doctors are advising Tannehill how many times he should throw during each session this week and how far he should throw.

“It’s a pitch count, distance,” Gase said. “There are a lot of factors involved. It’s like what they’re doing right now – it’s like don’t throw any balls over 15 yards, don’t through any over 20, 25. It’s going to be a progression. He didn’t throw a ball there for a while. We’ve got to be careful. There has to be a buildup from there.”

The Dolphins are now down to just two healthy receivers: Danny Amendola and Kenny Stills. Leonte Carroo, who had two big plays on special teams on Sunday, is positioned to become the No. 3 receiver if Grant and Parker miss time. The Dolphins also might promote a receiver from their practice squad: Isaiah Ford or Malcolm Lewis.

Among free agent receivers available: former Dolphins receiver Tanner McEvoy, Canes receiver Rashawn Scott and former Baltimore receiver Kamar Aiken.

Grant, who has been dealing with an Achilles’ injury, came up lame when running a route in the fourth quarter Sunday, fell to the ground, pounded his hand on the turf in disgust and was taken to the locker-room in a stretcher. He left the stadium in a walking boot but the MRI showed he had “dodged a bullet,” according to a team source.

Grant, greatly improved as a receiver, has 21 catches for 268 yards (a 12.8 average) and two touchdown receptions this season. Grant leads with the NFL with 535 kickoff return yards and is third in average kickoff returns at 29.7 with one for a touchdown.

Grant ranks second in the league in punt return average at 16.3 and also has a punt return for a touchdown. He has returned 14 punts this season while Danny Amendola has returned two for 14 yards.

Parker, who left the locker-room Sunday wearing a sling on his shoulder, has 14 catches for 225 yards but has been limited to five games, including four starts, because of an August finger injury and an October quadriceps injury.

Right tackle Ja’Wuan James, who missed Sunday’s game with a knee injury, said he should be fine for the Colts game. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil, who also missed the game with a knee injury, did not want to discuss his health on Monday.

Dolphins players met on Monday but they will be off the remainder of their bye week. Teams sometimes practice at least Wednesday of their bye week, but Gase decided against scheduling a practice this week.

“We’ve played 10 games,” Gase said of his reason for giving players the week off, adding the Dolphins wouldn’t even have 46 healthy players if they played a game this week.

The Dolphins finished Sunday’s game without 11 players expected to fill significant roles for them this season.

This story was originally published November 12, 2018 at 5:31 PM.