The NFL's leading active rusher is expected to miss the rest

With another season stumbling toward the finish line Cheap Reshad Jones Jersey , the Miami Dolphins can begin thinking about 2019, and that includes Frank Gore. a person familiar with the situation said Monday. The person confirmed Gore's status to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't commented on the severity of his injury.Gore was hurt during Sunday's 41-17 loss at Minnesota . He has played in 126 consecutive games and made 122 starts in a row, and both streaks are the longest by an NFL offensive skill player.Last week Gore, 35, said he was uncertain whether he wanted to play next year. That's one of many offseason decisions looming for the Dolphins (7-7) now that they've been reduced to long-shot status in the playoff race."We're outside looking in," coach Adam Gase acknowledged. It's a familiar position for the Dolphins, who have played only two postseason games since 2001.Gase is 23-23 and likely to return for a fourth season. Less secure is executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum. A shake-up among Gase's assistants is probable, with defensive coordinator Matt Burke most in jeopardy. A myriad of player personnel decisions will begin with whether to bring back quarterback Ryan Tannehill.But first there's a schedule to play out 鈥?at home Sunday against Jacksonville , and at Buffalo the following week."The difficult part right now is we can handle our business Cheap Mike Gesicki Jersey , but that's doesn't mean anything," Gase said. "We've got other teams that can affect our season."Eight AFC teams have a better record in the race for six playoff spots. That means the Dolphins would need a lot of help to reach the postseason 鈥?plus a sweep of their final two games, which seems unlikely in the wake of the latest flop.Minnesota manhandled Miami up front on both sides of the ball. Tannehill was sacked nine times, tying the franchise record, and the run defense allowed 220 yards.The Dolphins fell behind 21-0 in the first quarter, closed within 21-17 early in the second half and did little right thereafter."That's been the sad story of our woes this year 鈥?not being able to finish," running back Kenyan Drake said.It has been a team effort. The Dolphins rank 30th in the league in defense and 29th in offense, and they've been outgained by 100 yards per game 鈥?1,402 total. The franchise record is 1,321 in 1967.Also in danger is the team record of 383 yards allowed per game set in 2016 Cheap Jerome Baker Jersey , Gase's first season. Burke's defense has given up 402 yards per game.Aside from chances to break negative records, the final two games will be little more than tryouts for next year. Among the players likely to get a long look will be fourth-round draft pick Kalen Ballage, one of the few bright spots at Minnesota with a season-high 123 yards rushing and his first career touchdown, which came on a 75-yard run.Gore's injury means more snaps for the rookie from Arizona State."I'm ready," Ballage said. "Obviously you don't want to lose somebody like a Hall of Fame running back. Frank can do everything. But I'll just be ready to step into whatever role they need me to be in." MIAMI (AP) 鈥?The Miami Dolphins arrived at their bye week a .500 team, which is no surprise because for the past quarter century they've been a .500 franchise.Their record since 1994: 197-197. Their record this year: 5-5. Coach Adam Gase's three-year record: 21-21.If there's a middle of the pack, the Dolphins are in the middle of it. They haven't won a playoff game since 2000, but they could well be headed for their third 8-8 finish in the past six years."These are tough times to be a Dolphin fan," tweeted their former fullback, Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka. "Very frustrating. Shabby football."Far from perfect Josh Sitton Jersey , for sure. Given the way the season has gone, it's amazing the Dolphins can still talk with a straight face about making the playoffs.They've been decimated by injuries, including the loss of quarterback Ryan Tannehill for the past five games. They've been outgained by 787 yards, third-worst in the league, and outscored by 57 points. They rank 28th in offense and 26th in defense.More Miami Dolphins newsMaking it official: Dolphins hire Super Bowl-winning Patriots assistant Brian Flores as 13th head coach in franchise historyJaguars CB Jalen Ramsey catches a TD on offense as AFC thumps NFC in rainy Pro Bowl in OrlandoDolphins meet again with Patriots assistant Brian FloresDolphins must wait until after Super Bowl to seal deal with Patriots LB coach Brian FloresFormer Dolphins six-time Pro Bowl selection Bob Kuechenberg dies at age 71Yet they began the week with the eighth-best record in the AFC, while eight teams had worse records.In sum: more Miami mediocrity."We are in a good position," running back Frank Gore said with a straight face. "We just need to stay as one, believe in each other, believe in our coaching staff and try to get the next one."The next one will be Nov. 25 at Indianapolis, with Tannehill hoping to return from his throwing shoulder injury Womens Kenyan Drake Jersey , although that may be a long shot.Only two of the six remaining games are against teams with winning records. So it's not impossible for Miami to actually make the playoffs for only the third time in the past 17 seasons."There are certain teams that have kind of separated themselves from the rest of the pack," Gase said. "But right now, the only thing that's really been eliminated for us is an undefeated season. Everything else is on the table. Other teams are having a lot of the same issues we are, and it's really who can pull it together these last six games and find a way to get in."A bye week may not be enough time to resolve the Dolphins' many issues, however. That could take an offseason or three.For starters, the Dolphins are on pace to allow the most yards in franchise history. Their run defense ranks last in the league and seems to be getting worse, with 174 yards allowed per game and 5.9 per carry over the past five weeks. Defensive dysfunction is such that two-time Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones took himself out of a game because he was unhappy with a plan to rotate personnel.And then there's the offense, which has gone nine quarters without a touchdown. In the past three games receiver Danny Amendola has thrown for more scores (one) than quarterback Brock Osweiler (none)."This football team deserves touchdowns," Osweiler said.Osweiler has been critical of his play as Tannehill's replacement, and he's not alone. But bad luck has been an offensive culprit Youth Laremy Tunsil Jersey , too. The Dolphins lost their most dynamic player, receiver Albert Wilson, and two starting offensive linemen to season-ending injuries, and three other injured linemen sat out last week's loss at Green Bay.Bad health is less of an excuse on defense, where Gase's decision to jettison tackles Ndamukong Suh and Jordan Phillips left holes that haven't been filled. Yawning run gaps and blown coverage are staples, calling into question the future of second-year coordinator Matt Burke.That's a topic for the offseason, along with the future of Tannehill. First the Dolphins will try to summon a late-season surge, which would be something new.Over the past decade, their record in December is 22-22.