DAVIE, Fla. (AP) – Quarterback A.J. Feeley will remain in the Miami Dolphins’ lineup – at least for now. Feeley played well enough coming off the bench in the Dolphins’ season-opening loss to earn a start this week at Cincinnati.

That means a demotion for Jay Fiedler after four seasons as the starter.

Feeley threw for a touchdown, but had an interception returned for a score.

in the Dolphins’ 17-7 loss Saturday to Tennessee.

“To give us the best chance to beat the Bengals and do what we need to do offensively, he’ll be ready to do that,” Wannstedt said.

But Feeley’s hold on No. 1 is tenuous. Wannstedt said he may continue to shuffle quarterbacks.

“Whatever we’ve got to do to win at any position, we’re going to do it,” he said.

The Dolphins are trying to avoid their first 0-2 start since 1988, their most recent losing season.

Feeley will take over a sputtering offense hampered by injuries. Starting running back Travis Minor and backup Sammy Morris missed the second half of the opener due to sprained ankles, and their availability against Cincinnati is uncertain.

Lamar Gordon, who had just a handful of repetitions in practice after Miami acquired him in a trade Wednesday, led the team with 32 yards rushing in 12 carries. He’ll likely start Sunday.

“I’m excited after seeing him play,” Wannstedt said. “We added a good player to our team.”

Feeley will make his first start since 2002, when he became a hero in Philadelphia by going 4-1 as the Eagles’ No. 1 quarterback after Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer were hurt. Those are Feeley’s only NFL starts, and he started just eight games at Oregon.

But Wannstedt opted to gamble on the less experienced Feeley after Fiedler threw two interceptions in the first half against the Titans and led Miami to just three first downs. Fiedler went to the bench with Miami trailing 7-0.

“It wasn’t the score as much as the turnovers,” Wannstedt said. “That’s the one thing we know we can’t do. I just felt at halftime we needed to do something offensively to give us a spark and to get into a little bit of rhythm. That was my reasoning for the change.”

Feeley went 21-for-31 for 168 yards. Under pressure from a blitz, he made an errant throw that Lamont Thompson intercepted and returned 37 yards for a touchdown and a 14-0 Titans lead.

“When he has had problems – we’ve got to understand he doesn’t need to make a play,” Wannstedt said. “If something bad happens blocking-wise, route-wise or coverage-wise that he doesn’t have control over, hey, let’s move on to the next play. Throw it away in the dirt.”

The quarterback change will likely be popular with Miami fans. They were booing Fiedler by the second quarter, and they cheered Feeley even when he came off the field after his first series stalled following a 34-yard drive.

Fiedler is 36-18 as a starter, but Dan Marino’s successor never been a crowd favorite.

“As I’ve always done in my five years here, I’m ready to contribute to the team’s success in any way I can,” Fiedler said in a statement released by the club. “Everyone wants to start, but if I don’t, I’ll do everything I can to help A.J. and to be as prepared as possible in case I do play.”

Several Dolphins have said it would good for either Feeley or Fiedler to settle in as No. 1.

“I think it’s beneficial for those guys – that one guy knows he can relax and just go out and play, and not worry and not be watching his back every play,” receiver Derrius Thompson said.

Reflecting the lack of continuity, Miami committed 14 penalties in the opener, matching the franchise record. Seven were on offense, and four came before the snap with Feeley at quarterback.

“It wasn’t that plays weren’t working; it was the penalties,” Wannstedt said. “That will be a focus this week.”

Wannstedt said some penalties were understandable given the offense’s state of transition. Along with Feeley and Gordon, the lineup includes recently acquired receiver Marty Booker and a revamped offensive line.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity of starting against the Bengals,” Feeley said in a statement. “I’ll have a full week of reps, and I’ll get more familiar with some of our newcomers, and that will be a major help in my preparation.”

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