Chris Conte Jersey , Ryan Tannehill had plenty of time to throw Thursday night."The protection was awesome," coach Adam Gase said. "He was back there
peeling an orange."An untouched Tannehill completed passes on the first four
plays in his return from two serious injuries to his left knee, and the Miami
Dolphins lost their exhibition opener to Tampa Bay 26-24.Tannehill, seeing his
first action since December 2016, led a 40-yard drive that ended with a missed
field goal in his only series. He was off-target on his final two throws and
finished 4 for 6 for 32 yards."We didn't end up with points, which is what you
want to do," Tannehill said. "But I thought for our first time hitting the
field, my first time hitting the field in a long time, it felt good to be back
out there."New Buccaneers kicker Chandler Catanzaro made a 26-yard field goal
with 23 seconds left to cap a 67-yard drive and give them the win.Tampa Bay's
Jameis Winston played the second quarter against Miami's second team and led a
group of reserves to 10 points on drives of 32 and 40 yards. He went 11 for 13
for 102 yards in four series."Man, it was just great to play against another
team," Winston said. He's suspended for the first three games of the regular
season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.Ryan Fitzpatrick led the
Bucs on a 57-yard, six-play touchdown drive on their first possession. It was
capped by Peyton Barber's 4-yard run.BACKUP BATTLEMiami's David Fales, battling
Brock Osweiler for the backup quarterback job
Shaquil Barrett Jersey , led the second-string offense to a field goal against the Buccaneers' first-team defense. Fales also directed a 75-yard
touchdown drive in the second quarter, and he finished 8 of 11 for 115
yards.Osweiler went 10 for 21 for 83 yards. Gase didn't give either reserve QB
an edge in their competition."This is going to take all of training camp," Gase
said. "It's going to take all preseason."ROOKIE RUSHERSDolphins fourth-round
draft pick Kalen Ballage rushed for 37 yards in 10 carries and caught three
passes for 23 yards. He also lost a fumble.Bucs second-round pick Ronald Jones
was held to 9 yards in eight carries, but scored on a 2-yard run.KICKING
RESULTSCatanzaro missed his first extra-point attempt and missed a 53-yard field
goal try, but also made two field goals."It was great to see him have the chance
to get the game-winner," coach Dirk Koetter said. "The good news is he got that
missed extra point out of the way so we don't have to repeat that again. He
mishit one, and I know he'll be his worst critic."Rookie Jason Sanders, battling
rookie Greg Joseph for the Dolphins' kicking job, made field goals of 29 and 23
yards but missed a 53-yarder. Joseph made a 48-yarder.NATIONAL ANTHEMDolphins
receivers Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson and defensive end Robert Quinn
protested during the anthem. Stills and Wilson kneeled behind teammates lined up
standing along the sideline. Quinn stood and raised his right fist. There were
no apparent protests by the Buccaneers.Stills kneeled during the anthem during
the 2016-17 seasons and has been vocal discussing social injustice issues that
inspired the protest movement by NFL players.INJURIESBucs: CB Vernon Hargreaves
III left in the first quarter with a groin injury and didn't return. ...
First-round draft pick DT Vita Vea didn't play. He has missed most of training
camp with a calf injury.Dolphins: Reserve LB Mike Hull left the field on a cart
in the second quarter with a left knee injury.UP NEXTBuccaneers: Tampa Bay plays
at Tennessee on Aug. 18.Dolphins: Miami plays at Carolina on Aug. 17. After
Sunday’s 16-3 loss to Washington, Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter said the
team would discuss “all personnel issues” when asked about who would start at
quarterback against the Giants in Week 11.On Monday, Koetter announced there
would be no change. Ryan Fitzpatrick will start for the third week in a row and
the seventh time this season.Fitzpatrick was 29-of-41 for 406 yards against
Washington, but he threw two interceptions and lost a fumble to help bury the
team’s chances of winning for the fourth time this year. Fitzpatrick also threw
two interceptions in Tampa’s Week Nine loss to the Panthers.Jameis Winston
returned to the team after a three-game suspension to open the season and moved
into the starting lineup in Week Six. He was benched in favor of Fitzpatrick in
Week Eight and has not played since that point.
