Injured Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington has a torn capsule in his right shoulder and will miss the remainder of the season, a league source confirmed to The Palm Beach Post Monday.
ESPN Senior NFL analyst Chris Mortenson, quoting league sources, reported first that Pennington will miss the rest of the year. It also said Pennington will seek a second opinion from renowned orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews, who has operated on the same shoulder twice previously, after the 2004 and 2005 seasons.
Pennington underwent an MRI on his throwing shoulder Monday morning after leaving Sunday early in the third quarter of the Dolphins’ 23-13 loss at San Diego. Coach Tony Sparano remained optimistic at his press briefing later that morning, insisting that he had ruled anything out and “we’ll wait and see.”
Pennington’s contract expires at the end of the year; there had been no discussions reported on talk of an extension.
His absence hands the starting job to backup Chad Henne, who completed 9-of-19 passes for 92 yards Sunday, with one interception being returned 32 yards for a touchdown by Eric Weddle.
Henne, a second-round pick out of Michigan in 2008, had been expected to serve as an understudy to Pennington for the rest of the season before possibly taking over the reins next year. Pennington’s injury moves that timetable forward considerably.
Rookie Pat White becomes the backup for now, but the Dolphins are likely to seek a veteran for insurance if Henne were to go down. Among those who could contend for that job are Brooks Bollinger, Gus Frerotte and former Dolphins A.J. Feeley and Cleo Lemon.
Here’s ESPN’s report on the latest with Pennington:
