It looks like the shoulder injury sustained by Chad Pennington in their 23-13 loss on Sunday to the San Diego Chargers will put the Miami Dolphins quarterback on the sidelines for at least the rest of the season. Pennington's MRI results showed he has a torn capsule in his right shoulder and the injury could even be career ending.
“I can’t rule anything out,” stated Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano earlier today when asked to comment on the status of Chad Pennington. “I really don’t know the details…We’re trying to gather a little bit more information.”
The Miami Dolphins are currently 0-3 and will now be guided by backup quarterback Chad Henne, who will get his first NFL career start against the Buffalo Bills at Land Shark Stadium this Sunday. The former Michigan Wolverine was drafted by the Fins in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
Pennington is expect to get a second opinion this week from Dr. James Andrews, the orthopedic specialist who performed surgery on the quarterback's shoulder in 2005. Assuming he needs surgery it will be the third one the former Marshall star and 2008 NFL MVP runner up has had on the right shoulder in the past four years. Last season Pennington threw for 3,653 yards with 19 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.
"If, and again I don't know the details so I'd rather not go down that road; but the leadership thing can't be water off the duck's back, I think it's a major issue. [We would miss] I think experience of a guy of his caliber in the huddle like that," Sparano said. "We'll see what happens, we aren't sure."
The Miami Dolphins are +2.5 point underdogs in their NFL Week 4 game against the Buffalo Bill at Sportsbook.com. The Bills vs Dolphins Total is set at 37 points.
