The Miami Dolphins had been simply getting more healthy general.
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and left deal with Terron Armstead had been again for the 16-10 Sunday night time win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard, in a second sport since lacking one resulting from accidents to his groins, is starting to seem like himself once more, locking up his aspect off the sector and never being challenged by Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett.
But as some return, others are taken away.
On Sunday night time, it was robust security Brandon Jones leaving with a left knee harm. He was down on the sector for a couple of minutes earlier than being attended to within the staff’s medical tent on the sideline and ultimately escorted by trainers to the locker room. He was dominated out for the rest of the night time.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s Monday replace, whereas not definitive, was not a constructive one.
“It’s looking like he’s going to go on [injured reserve],” McDaniel stated. “We’re getting some extra opinions. There’s some lingering faculty stuff which can be complicating the difficulty, however we must always know extra by Wednesday. … I’m not too enthusiastic about it.
“We’ll hope for the best information coming back, but more than likely, he’s going to be on IR.”
Jones is Miami’s main tackler (49, 11 greater than Jerome Baker’s 38 for second-most). The Dolphins await higher readability as they put together to journey for back-to-back street video games at NFC North groups, the Detroit Lions (1-5) and Chicago Bears (2-4), after bettering to 4-3 with the victory over Pittsburgh.
Injured reserve places a participant out for no less than 4 weeks.
The Jones harm comes on a unit that’s already been overwhelmed down, the secondary. While simply getting Howard again, cornerbacks Kader Kohou and Keion Crossen missed Sunday’s sport. Byron Jones, a starter when wholesome, doesn’t have an imminent return from the physically-unable-to-perform checklist in sight, with McDaniel saying Monday he’s not but able to return to apply. Nik Needham, the nickel cornerback when all are wholesome, was misplaced final week to an Achilles tear.
But by way of harm comes alternative for these decrease on the depth chart. It was solely due to such attrition that Noah Igbinoghene sealed Sunday night time’s win with an interception, the primary of his three-year profession, with 18 seconds remaining. Or Justin Bethel, a profession particular groups ace, arising along with his first interception since 2017.
At Brandon Jones’ robust security spot within the second half Sunday, it was largely Clayton Fejedelem, one other participant on the roster primarily for particular groups contributions, plus undrafted rookie and practice-squad elevation Verone McKinley. Veteran Eric Rowe largely remained in his dime-package function. Fejedelem received 18 defensive snaps, Rowe 17 and McKinley 16 in opposition to the Steelers.
Fejedelem stepped up with 4 tackles, together with a key third-down cease, and a move deflection. Rowe had two tackles, and McKinley recorded one.
“Nothing to negate from Eric Rowe’s play,” McDaniel stated of not choosing the veteran and former starter within the security function. “It was just the [contingency] plan going in as the people that we had up in the active game-day roster.”
Who would’ve thought, when the season began, the Dolphins would have mixtures of Igbinoghene, Bethel, Fejedelem, McKinley and undrafted rookie defensive lineman Ben Stille on the sector collectively for late stops in a prime-time win? Stille, enjoying 9 snaps Sunday, was elevated from the apply squad to assist take care of the absence of defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah resulting from a again harm.
Ogbah, Kohou (indirect) and Crossen (knee) had been seen collaborating in gentle workouts early pregame Sunday night whereas out of uniform. Their statuses can even be monitored all through the week, together with Jones. Overall, although, it was a welcome sight for the Dolphins to have Howard, Armstead, huge receiver Jaylen Waddle, defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, tight finish Durham Smythe and deal with Greg Little accessible when all entered questionable. Aside from Little, the opposite 5 began Sunday.
Jones’ run help will probably be one of many key elements of his sport that will probably be missed, in addition to his skill to blitz from the protection place. He already has two sacks in seven video games this season after amassing 5 in 2021.
The Dolphins even have proper deal with Austin Jackson to observe this week. He returned to apply two weeks in the past however didn’t apply final week as he works towards his return from IR for his ankle harm. McDaniel wasn’t sure Jackson would begin practising once more this week.
With Jackson nonetheless out, Brandon Shell began at proper deal with as a substitute of Little after Shell was signed to the energetic roster from the apply squad on Saturday.
“He continues to impress,” McDaniel stated. “I thought he did some really good things. … He’s fitting right into the culture, continues to get better and is a real strong dude that understands angles and how to block people.”
Monday was an off day for gamers at Dolphins amenities, so solely McDaniel spoke to reporters.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com