When Dolphins backup QB Matt Moore jogged into the huddle in relief of injured starting QB Ryan Tannehill in the first half of a 30-9 win over the Jets on Sunday, coach Joe Philbin wasn’t concerned about altering his team’s attack.
“We’re fortunate in that regard,” Philbin said. “You go into a game and you build your plan off of obviously your players and what you’re going to see from the opposition and so we were able to pretty much stay with what we were going to do.”
Moore completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards with a touchdown. The rookie underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed no structural damage in his left knee. However, the eighth overall pick in April’s draft was diagnosed with a bruised left quad and a bone bruise in his left knee and the team was non-committal about his status for Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
“I didn’t see him do anything [Monday],” offensive coordinator Mike Sherman said. “I saw him walking around a bit and I know he’s fairly optimistic, but we just have to wait and see.”
Meanwhile, the team has devoted time each week to work with Moore in the new offense. Moore started 12 games last season before losing the job to Tannehill during the preseason.
“He and [assistant QB coach Zac] Taylor go out on Fridays and go through the scripts to prepare him for these opportunities if in fact it does come,” Sherman said. “You know when you’re not expecting something to happen, it is hard to have great preparation, but obviously he has. I thought he went in and did extremely well and he was a big part of why we won that football game.”
Better to receive: Miami WRs Marlon Moore and Jabar Gaffney made statements in their ongoing battle for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart.
Both made spectacular grabs in inclement weather against the Jets last week. Moore made a fantastic 37-yard grab for his lone catch as he was targeted once. Gaffney, meantime, was targeted twice and came up with a 30-yard reception.
Each earned praise from Philbin after the victory.
“Marlon made a great effort, individual effort on his part,” Philbin said. “You put the ball up with some air, let the guy run underneath it and catch it and Marlon extended his body and made a nice catch. Both guys contributed.”
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