Chad Henne will take over as the Dolphins' starting QB.

According to a report on ESPN.com, Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington will likely miss the rest of the 2009 season with a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder. Normally, NFL injury news has no place on a Michigan blog, but Pennington’s backup happens to be former Michigan QB Chad Henne. Henne completed 10 of 19 passes for 92 yards and an interception after Pennington went down in Miami’s 23-13 loss to San Diego on Sunday, and is now in line to make his first career start when the Dolphins host Buffalo on Sunday. Although the Dolphins were understandably disappointed to lose their leader and quarterback to injury, it sounds like they’re rallying behind the former Wolverine quarterback:

“We’re going to have to go out there with Henne, who is a lot less experienced,” tight end Anthony Fasano said. “There is definitely going to be a learning curve for Henne. He can learn as much as he wants in a classroom, but until he’s out on the field, in-game experience he’s not going to learn.

“But we have a lot of faith in Chad. He’s a smart guy, a great leader and fun to play with. We’re just going to have to move on.”

You hate to see a player go down to injury, especially a guy like Pennington, who has already been through two surgeries on that same shoulder, but I’m also excited to see what Henne can do at the pro level. Michigan fans heading to the bar for NFL Sunday (or those of you lucky enough to have NFL Sunday Ticket) should make sure to keep an eye on the Miami/Buffalo game — we could be witnessing the emergence of the next great Wolverine quarterback in the NFL.

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