Add Xavien Howard to the prolonged listing of Miami Dolphins with damage considerations heading into Sunday’s pivotal Week 17 AFC East matchup in opposition to the New England Patriots.
The Dolphins’ four-time Pro Bowl cornerback popped up on the staff’s Thursday damage report as restricted within the day’s drills resulting from a knee damage.
Howard was not seen in Miami’s locker room in a 45-minute session open to media at staff services after Thursday’s drills.
The knee ailment is new for Howard. He handled groin accidents for a lot of the primary half of the season however was final listed as coping with the groin damage forward of the Oct. 30 sport in opposition to the Detroit Lions, when he entered questionable.
Howard, who has performed 14 of Miami’s 15 video games this 12 months, has not been his standard ballhawking self, intercepting only one go to date within the 2022 season. This for a participant who leads the NFL in interceptions since he entered the league in 2016, with 28 — two higher than the Broncos’ Justin Simmons.
Howard is considered one of three Dolphins chosen to the Pro Bowl this season, together with broad receiver Tyreek Hill and left deal with Terron Armstead.
Additionally, Miami proper deal with Brandon Shell popped up on the Thursday damage report for a shoulder damage. He was seen within the locker room after apply and appeared high-quality.
The Dolphins had the identical six gamers miss drills Thursday resulting from damage restoration as they did Wednesday: Armstead (toe/pectoral/knee/hip), quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (concussion), outdoors linebacker Bradley Chubb (ankle/hand), fullback Alec Ingold (thumb), broad receiver River Cracraft (calf) and deal with Eric Fisher (calf).
On Wednesday, outdoors linebacker Melvin Ingram and operating again Raheem Mostert acquired veteran relaxation. Ingram returned to full participation Thursday whereas Mostert was restricted as a part of his relaxation program.
Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (toe) and safeties Eric Rowe (quadriceps/knee) and Clayton Fejedelem (knee) went by way of a second consecutive day of restricted participation.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, in line to begin for Tagovailoa, stays listed on the damage report as receiving therapy on his knee after lacking 5 video games between November and early December, however he’s taking part absolutely in apply.
For the Patriots, security Adrian Phillips missed Thursday’s apply with an sickness. Running again Damien Harris, after being restricted Wednesday with a thigh damage, missed Thursday’s session for private causes.
Six Patriots missed a second consecutive day of drills: Wide receiver DeVante Parker (concussion), tight finish Jonnu Smith (concussion), deal with Yodny Cajuste (sickness) and defensive backs Jalen Mills (groin), Jack Jones (knee) and Marcus Jones (concussion).
Limited for a second consecutive apply in New England had been: Tight finish Hunter Henry (knee), cornerback Jonathan Jones (chest), operating again Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and broad receiver Tyquan Thornton (knee).
Special groups considerations
Dolphins particular groups coordinator Danny Crossman addressed the 93-yard kick return allowed to Packers returner Keisean Nixon within the first quarter of Sunday’s loss.
“That’s a combination of that’s a very good returner who has had a lot of success getting back to the field and was able to make a great cut and get some guys out of their gap or trying to do too much,” Crossman mentioned. “There’s an illustration of a great returner. He did a really good job selling it, stuck his foot in the ground, got a guy out of the gap.”
On Miami’s subsequent kickoff later within the opening interval, the staff tried an obvious squib kick that allowed Green Bay to begin close to midfield, however Crossman mentioned it was merely a miskick by kicker Jason Sanders.
Coach Mike McDaniel was involved together with his particular groups unit in his Monday feedback.
“I thought we definitely cost the team this week,” he mentioned after Sanders additionally missed a subject objective within the second half. In a few events, there have been some performs made, for positive, however with regard to subject place on two cases and a missed alternative to get factors.”
He was dissatisfied after what he thought was a optimistic particular groups displaying the earlier week in opposition to the Buffalo Bills.
“It sure didn’t transfer to two games, so you have to really comb the whys on that,” McDaniel mentioned.
A optimistic particular groups play got here when nostril deal with Raekwon Davis stuffed a pretend punt try, which Crossman mentioned was a byproduct of Miami preparedness for a pretend in that spot given Packers coaches’ historical past of making an attempt to make a play in comparable conditions.
Bevell a head coach candidate
Dolphins quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell is a reputation being thrown round as a head teaching candidate this upcoming cycle, together with with the Denver Broncos’ open place after they fired Nathaniel Hackett.
Does Bevell see himself finally pursuing a head teaching position?
“I’ve been asked this question a hundred times,” he mentioned Thursday, whereas asserting his focus is on dealing with the Patriots this week. “Yeah, it’s something that I definitely want to do. Whenever the time happens, it’s something that I’d be ready for, but right now, this is a huge opportunity for us.”
Bevell is a longtime NFL offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach who, earlier than Tagovailoa, had labored with the likes of Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Matthew Stafford and Trevor Lawrence. He additionally has completed seasons as an interim head coach the final two seasons — with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 and Detroit Lions in 2020.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com