Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill does not yet know if he’ll need surgery to repair a torn ACL. But according to a report, an MRI on January 30 could make that determination.
@NFL sources tell me Ryan Tannehill is set for another MRI @MiamiDolphins fans on Jan 30th which could determine if he needs surgery.
— Orlando Alzugaray Jr (@BigOShow) January 24, 2017
The injury sidelined Tannehill for the final three games of the regular season, as well as Miami’s first round playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Since the injury occurred, the necessity of surgery has been a point of contention.
It’s strange that more than a month later, no answers have come. Even stranger is that according to the report, the January 30 MRI “could” determine whether surgery is needed. The results might still be inconclusive.
ACL surgery is generally a long recovery process. The longer Tannehill waits, the more likely it is that the recovery will somehow spill into the 2017 season, at least hurting his sharpness and at most keeping him sidelined.
If the decision for surgery is ultimately reached, sooner is better. The longer surgery is put off, the more it will hurt Tannehill and the Dolphins if it’s eventually needed.