It’s about winning. The Miami Dolphins need to be prepared more than most teams for a quarterback injury. And their backup quarterbacks keep looking pedestrian. And sitting in their backyard is a veteran, experienced quarterback looking for a job.

You sign Ryan Tannehill, right?

If this is about winning — and that’s the only thing this season is about — then the Dolphins are at the very least getting his phone number in case this second week of preseason work by backups Mike White and Skyler Thompson continues to be as uninspired as the reserve cast around them.

There’s no debate that Tannehill can help the Dolphins to win, more no matter what you thought of his eight-year run with the organization. This third year under Mike McDaniel (and sixth season of this never-ending rebuild) is the last, best window to win, considering salary-cap issues moving forward.

So, don’t talk about how it would be awkward bringing back a quarterback who once had the run of the franchise. No coach or player was even around from those days. That era is long gone.

Don’t talk about how Tannehill’s skill set is diminishing at 36 as evidenced by losing the Tennessee job last year. He was on a rebuilding team turning the page to the youngster, Will Levis. He’d also come here as a backup, not a starter.

Finally, don’t talk about how it might make Tua Tagovailoa uncomfortable to bring in a veteran presence —  especially this veteran. We’re beyond such insecurity by now, right? Everything that can be secured in this marriage has been now that Tagovailoa signed a big contract. Tannehill’s arrival wouldn’t make this any less Tua’s team.

But part of making this his team is an acceptance of some risk in doing so beyond the question is if he can carry a team in the deepest parts of the season.

There’s also his smaller size and health issues that don’t disappear just because he played all 18 games last season. That means you want a good insurance policy.

Are the Dolphins comfortable with White or Thompson? They were a year ago. McDaniel praised their work in Saturday’s preseason game against Atlanta.

And, yes, both are professional, no doubt improved and were saddled in the Saturday’s game with lesser surrounding talent than the speedsters on the first team. White, especially, played with a no-name cast in the second half.

There’s still another week of practice, including one with Washington on Thursday followed by Saturday’s game. But the fact neither White nor Thompson has separated from the other isn’t something to be happy about at this point. You someone to stand out even at reserve quarterback.

There’s some question if the lankier White’s skill set directly matches the quick-strike strategy of this offense. That’s a question about Tannehill in this offense, too.

But Tannehill would bring a veteran who’s seen everything and done more everything, from losing seasons to serious injury to playing in the AFC Championship Game.

There’s some questions needing answers. Did his play slip too far last year in Tennessee in passing for four touchdowns. Would he accept a back-up role at this point in his career, including the contract, or is he still holding out for a chance to start somewhere?

And does he want to return to the Dolphins?

Everyone looks at Tannehill’s availability from the Dolphins side. There’s Tannehill’s side, too. He has to see the value in returning to this franchise in this situation.

It’s hard to find in sports a player who has come back to where he started and assume a lesser role. No matter, this isn’t about some nostalgic whiff. Tannehill was a larger-than-life figure on the Dolphins. He was part of this past quarter-century of mostly troubled times, even if it wasn’t all his doing.

The book on Tannehill’s career reads much like it does on Tua right now: He’s good enough if everyone around him is good enough. The difference is Tannehill is near the end of that book, while Tua is still writing his next chapter.

This is Tagovailoa’s team. There’s no question about that. But there’s also little question that his team is better with an experienced reserve like Tannehill on it.

They will also break down the backup quarterback battle and preview Friday night’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons.

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