Amid the enjoyment of the Dolphins celebrating their five-game successful streak, occupying first place within the AFC East (once more), and being getting ready to enjoying significant December and January video games, there’s a little bit of a downer.
Left deal with Terron Armstead, a three-time Pro Bowl choice and workforce captain, left Sunday’s 30-15 victory over Houston with a pectoral harm within the second quarter and didn’t return.
This may very well be large for the Dolphins and their playoff aspirations. We’ll probably get extra info on the prognosis Monday. The early report from the NFL Network is that it’s a pectoral pressure and Armstead may miss a while however may return comparatively quickly.
Everyone is hoping for the most effective from the pectoral harm as a result of it’s doubtlessly a serious improvement for a Dolphins offense that has scored 30 or extra factors in 4 consecutive video games, a rarely-seen tempo in latest franchise historical past.
Armstead was changed by Brandon Shell in opposition to the Texans. Whether Armstead is changed sooner or later by Shell, who performed left deal with for the second time in his profession on Sunday (the primary time was in opposition to the New York Jets earlier this season) or Greg Little, who performed proper deal with after Austin Jackson left the sport with an ankle harm, the Dolphins’ offensive line is likely to be in for a seismic change.
Regarding how lengthy Armstead is likely to be out, coach Mike McDaniel mentioned he “didn’t get any cue as far as how serious it would be, so we’ll find out more tomorrow.”
It is likely to be a coincidence, however halfway by the third quarter quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had been sacked 4 occasions since Armstead left the sport.
Backup quarterback Skylar Thompson was sacked as soon as after Armstead’s exit.
There had been zero sacks whereas Armstead was within the recreation.
Armstead, who has battled toe and calf accidents this season, is among the Dolphins’ greatest gamers no matter place. He’s a glue man, somebody who retains all the offensive line collectively on the sector, within the movie room, and within the locker room. He makes gamers round him higher.
You may recall Armstead speaking to his fellow offensive linemen whereas the Dolphins had been scoring 28 fourth-quarter factors in that incredible 42-38 comeback victory at Baltimore. He’s a counselor in addition to a buddy for the offensive line.
The Dolphins want Armstead for quite a lot of causes. They face San Francisco subsequent week and the 49ers characteristic edge rusher Nick Bosa, who was third within the league with 10.5 sacks when play started Sunday.
After that there’s Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Khalil Mack (7.0 sacks). Buffalo linebacker Von Miller (knee) will probably miss the Dolphins recreation, however there are different vital matchups, corresponding to New England linebacker Matthew Judon, the NFL chief coming into Sunday with 13.0 sacks. Any or all may wreck the Dolphins’ passing recreation if Armstead isn’t on the sector.
Beyond that, Armstead is an achieved run blocker, somebody who was a key to working again Jeff Wilson Jr. speeding for 119 yards in opposition to Cleveland.
But sadly, Armstead leaving the sport with an harm isn’t a shock.
Armstead’s harm historical past has at all times been an underlying concern. He’s missed a mean of 5.5 video games per yr the previous six on account of numerous illnesses, together with a torn pectoral muscle in 2018, his first Pro Bowl season, when he performed for New Orleans. He was inactive for six video games. He tried a comeback in Week 16 however exited the sport. He performed within the playoffs.
Anecdotally, a pectoral harm is commonly season-ending if there’s a tear.
Pittsburgh edge rusher T.J. Watt missed seven video games earlier this season with a torn pectoral muscle that didn’t require surgical procedure as a result of there wasn’t harm to the tendon. Hopefully, Armstead’s harm isn’t even that severe. If it’s, do the mathematics and issues get scary contemplating the Dolphins (8-3) have six regular-season video games remaining and haven’t but secured a playoff berth.
The final time Armstead missed a recreation this season, the Dolphins misplaced to Minnesota, 24-16, and surrendered a season-worst six sacks together with 13 quarterback hits on Teddy Bridgewater and Skylar Thompson.
That was the week after Armstead left the New York Jets recreation within the first quarter with a toe harm and didn’t return. The Dolphins misplaced that recreation, 40-17, whereas surrendering two sacks and a season-worst 16 quarterback hits on Bridgewater, who solely lasted one play, and Thompson.
Armstead then stayed in a single day in New York to seek the advice of with a specialist about his toe. The closing evaluation was Armstead was OK to proceed if he can deal with the ache. And, yeah, the man has been enjoying in a whole lot of ache. He was requested concerning the toe earlier this month.
“It’s tricky, man,” he mentioned. “It’s a tricky injury, especially for a bigger guy. It’s been tough. It’s been challenging to deal with, but as long as it’s functional, I’m rolling.”
Here’s hoping that pectoral muscle is purposeful, and Armstead is rolling for the 49ers recreation and past.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com