The Miami Dolphins placed Pennington on the reserve-injured list to create a roster spot for quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who was acquired Tuesday from the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed 2010 draft pick.
Pennington hurt his right shoulder in the third quarter Sunday at San Diego, an injury that leaves his career in jeopardy.
The 33-year-old has since elected to undergo a third surgery to repair a torn capsule in his shoulder, according to the Miami Herald.
Dr. James Andrews will perform the procedure on Friday in Birmingham, Ala., the newspaper reported. Andrews previously operated on Pennington's shoulder in 2004 and 2005.
Thigpen shores up depth behind second-year pro Chad Henne, who is expected to make his first NFL start Sunday against Buffalo. Henne went 10-for-19 for 92 yards with an interception after replacing Pennington. Rookie Pat White is the Dolphins' other quarterback.
Thigpen, a third-year pro, went 1-10 as a starter for the woeful Chiefs last year after both Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard went down with season-ending injuries. He threw for 2,608 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
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Kansas City acquired Matt Cassel in the offseason, and Thigpen lost a battle this year with Croyle for the No. 2 job.
Thigpen is excited about the move to Miami, even though the Dolphins are 0-3, Thigpen's agent, Joel Turner, said.
"It's not like that team is short on talent -- they won the division last year," Turner said. "It's a wonderful opportunity. Nobody does it like Bill Parcells. For Bill Parcells to believe in Tyler speaks volumes about Tyler."
Parcells may have Wildcat duty in mind for Thigpen, who ran a spread offense last year with the Chiefs. At 225 pounds, he's a powerful runner and the first quarterback in Chiefs history to score a touchdown three ways: as a passer, rusher and receiver.
Henne is expected to get an extended opportunity as a starter. Taken in the second round of the 2008 draft, he has been considered Pennington's heir apparent for more than a year.
The Dolphins will be Thigpen's third organization. He was a seventh-round draft pick by Minnesota in 2007.
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