Report: Dolphins fear Ryan Tannehill suffered torn ACL

The Miami Dolphins won on Sunday to keep their playoff hopes alive, but they have lost quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the season.

The Miami Dolphins pulled out a 26-23 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and they are now 8-5 with seven wins in their last eight games. But starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill suffered a left knee injury on a low hit from Cardinals’ defensive lineman Calais Campbell late in the third quarter, and the news is not good.

SLATER SCOOP: Ryan Tannehill has an ACL injury, source says. He is out for the season. #Dolphins

— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) December 11, 2016

Albert Breer has confirmed Tannehill’s injury, directly from Dolphins’ head coach Adam Gase.

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Matt Moore played the rest of Sunday’s game under center for the Dolphins, in his first action of the season. He led the Dolphins down the field for the game-winning drive, completing two passes to wide receiver Kenny Stills for a total of 41 yards the midst of driving rain, culminating in a 21-yard field goal from Andrew Franks as time expired.

The Dolphins’ remaining three games come against the rest of the AFC East, with back-to-back road games against the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills followed by a home game against the New England Patriots in Week 17. The possibility of bad weather in the first two games would be a daunting challenge for a warm weather team like the Dolphins, with or without Tannehill, and of course the Patriots are one of the best teams in the entire league regardless of venue.

Moore is the definition of a career backup, as he has not started a game since 2011 with the Dolphins. He started 12 games that season, which essentially set the Dolphins up to take Tannehill No. 8 overall the following year.

Miami can probably win their next two games with Moore as the starting quarterback, against two reeling teams that are playing out the string. But if Week 17 against New England presents a “win and you’re in” scenario, the Dolphins may narrowly miss earning a Wild Card spot.