"To one side of Tyler Thigpen, Chad Pennington's locker was vacant. Pennington had left the stadium, his shoulder re-injured on Sunday's first play, his return engagement as starter lasting 43 seconds.

To the other side of Thigpen, Chad Henne's locker was empty, too. Henne was being examined in the training room. He appeared a few minutes later on crutches, his knee wrapped, his season sounding unfortunately finished, too.

Here stood Thigpen at his locker, which was only fitting, considering he was the last Dolphins quarterback standing in Sunday's 29-17 win against Tennessee.

"As the No. 3 quarterback, I don't ever practice with the first team,'' he was saying. "I haven't had any reps with them this season. Any No. 3 that gets reps on any team, he's a lucky guy."

This makes the 85-yard drive Thigpen led to seal Sunday's win all the more interesting. It had everything : A touch pass between coverages to Brandon Marshall for 19 yards; he scrambled before throwing a 31-yard pass to tight end Anthony Fasano; and a 9-yard bullet to Fasano on third down for the touchdown.

"He made plays when we needed them to be made,'' running back Ronnie Brown said.

Now here's what Thigpen will be asked to do: The same thing all over again Thursday against Chicago. And, depending on Henne's injury, the following Sunday in Oakland. Can he? Will he? Is it even fair to ask?

Jim Leyland, the old Marlins Get your Marlins Tickets now! manager, used to tell reserves the one thing they should fear most is over-exposure. Save a day? Sure. Save a season? How many third-string quarterbacks have been able to pull that off? Kurt Warner. And, um, well …

"This is my opportunity,'' Thigpen said.

This was a day came without a script. Six players threw passes for the two teams. The Dolphins had an eight-play scoring drive with no quarterback (running the Wildcat).

And, as if to besiege Tony Sparano with bad luck, his gamble on Pennington backfired when the quarterback's problem shoulder didn't last the first play. Henne returned. Quarterbacks coach David Lee approached Thigpen."