Brock

Osweiler

“I’m extremely grateful for the time I did receive playing in the National Football League,’’ Osweiler said in a phone interview with 9News. “The experiences I did have, people I did meet, relationships I did make — I’m not going to dwell on the things that didn’t happen in my career.” Osweiler’s highlights include relieving Peyton Manning to carry the Broncos on a 5-2 stretch and into the postseason in 2015 and later collecting a four-year, $72 million contract to toss 15 touchdowns and 16 picks in 15 appearances with the Texans. He was shipped to Cleveland with a second-round pick (which was later turned into Nick Chubb) the following year. He hangs up his cleats having earned $41.3 million over seven seasons.

The Colts are in the market for a backup after the sudden retirement of Andrew Luck pushed Jacoby Brissett into the starting job. Chad Kelly is suspended to open the season, leaving Phillip Walker as the only current option on the depth chart to back up Brissett. Osweiler had some moments with the Dolphins last season but has drawn zero interest on the market since the end of the year.

In his defense, Miami was without starting tackles Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James, as well as starting LG Ted Larsen. Even so, Osweiler looked miserable under center and inevitably failed to throw a touchdown for the third consecutive game. Perhaps the Dolphins gets healthy and opt to open up the playbook over their upcoming bye, but the most likely scenario is David Fales taking reps if Ryan Tannehill is unable to return. Miami will again face an uphill battle in Week 12 against the Colts’ unwavering pass attack.

The two-score day was Osweiler’s second straight in place of Ryan Tannehill. Frankly, Osweiler has looked better than Tannehill. Both his scores were dimes delivered into the end zone. With the Dolphins playing on Thursday Night Football in Week 8, Tannehill seems unlikely to get cleared. Despite his good play — relatively speaking — Osweiler will remain a last-gasp QB2, especially since the Dolphins will likely be without Albert Wilson (hip). Wilson went down in the first half Sunday.

Ryan Tannehill (shoulder) has been ruled out. This will be Osweiler’s fourth straight start. He’s 1-2 after surprising against the Bears in Week 6 before bottoming out against the Texans last Thursday night. Osweiler will be a bottom-of-the-barrel option in two-quarterback leagues in a home game.

Osweiler was not sharp in this game. He did start off with a 26-yard gain to Danny Amendola, but he missed Amendola for what would have been a long gain later in the first quarter and threw behind DeVante Parker on what would have been another long play in the second. Miami finished the first half with just six points. Osweiler did even less after the break, but the defense bailed him out with a pick-six to essentially ice the game. With a trip to Green Bay up next, Osweiler will have to do more next week if the Dolphins hope to walk away with a win.

Osweiler stepped into a few nice throws but was otherwise awful. Osweiler’s pick was a high pass on the first play of the second quarter where the Texans arguably got away with a penalty, but he was extremely lucky to escape with only one turnover. The Texans flat dropped another pick a few minutes later and Osweiler tried to commit one of the worst fumbles you will ever see with time running out before the break. Cutting a throw off in the face of pressure, Osweiler brought the ball back into his body and had it knocked out for a 55-yard fumble six. Thankfully for him, replay revealed just enough of a “pass” attempt. If Ryan Tannehill cannot return for Week 9, Osweiler will be a last-gasp QB2 despite an attackable matchup in the Jets.

Ryan Tannehill remains week to week with a shoulder injury. Osweiler has held his own through two weeks and was not the reason for the Dolphins’ Week 7 loss. He’ll get his shot at a “revenge” game Thursday night against the Texans.

Osweiler was not sacked. Making his first start for the Dolphins in place of an injured Ryan Tannehill, Osweiler was his usual head-scratching self in the first half but woke up by contributing 266 yards on 16-of-25 passing after the break. Brock had his most success throwing to Albert Wilson, who erupted for a pair of second-half touchdowns including a 75-yarder to tie the game with time winding down in the fourth quarter. Osweiler is now 3-0 against the Bears for his career. He’s the first Dolphins signal-caller to reach the 300-yard mark in passing yards since Jay Cutler reached that threshold in Week 9 last season. If Tannehill’s shoulder is still an issue, Osweiler could see the field again next week against the Lions.

Tannehill’s shoulder hasn’t been right all week and now he’s looking like a long shot to suit up Sunday against Chicago. Brock Osweiler is expected to step in at quarterback, which will be a downgrade for all of Miami’s pass-catchers. With Tannehill’s status in doubt, Chicago’s defense should be a high-owned DFS commodity.