BY SEAN DONOVAN
That was until Friday afternoon.
Garrard is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery that will sideline him from practices and preseason games, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.The circumstances of the injury are still unknown, but the veteran quarterback was reportedly a full participant in Wednesday practice. The Dolphins practiced on Thursday as well, but the session was closed to the media.
The news comes mere hours before the Dolphins were scheduled to take the field for their first preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Matt Moore was reportedly told Friday morning that he would start the exhibition.
Garrard had seized frontrunner status in Miami's three-way quarterback race with a strong performance in offseason workouts and training camp. He was listed at No. 1 on Miami's first depth chart, released on Monday.
A lengthy recovery would likely draw the curtains on Garrard's career in Miami. He is only under contract for one season, and the Dolphins can avoid paying his $2.25 million dollar salary by releasing him before Week 1.
Details on Garrard's injury and rehabilitation are still unclear, but Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that the doctors are simply fixing some issues caused by "wear and tear" and that Garrard will be able to return to action in two-to-four weeks.
That would paint a less bleak picture for the first-year Dolphin, but the lost ground in the ongoing quarterback battle could prove to be just as damaging.
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