AP

Ryan Tannehill is taking a big step closer to becoming the Miami Dolphins’ starting quarterback.

Tannehill will start tonight’s preseason game at Carolina, according to broadcaster Dick Stockton, who calls play-by-play on the Dolphins’ preseason broadcasts.

Several recent reports have indicated that Tannehill is the best quarterback in Dolphins camp at the moment, especially after David Garrard went down with a knee injury last week. Tannehill is a rookie, but he’s a rookie who played for offensive coordinator Mike Sherman in college and therefore has more experience in the offense than Garrard or incumbent starter Matt Moore.

If Tannehill plays well tonight, he may just follow Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Brandon Weeden and become the NFL’s fourth rookie starting quarterback this season.