The Miami Dolphins will go into their Sunday night time prime time sport in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers with 9 gamers questionable and one other uncertain as a consequence of damage.
Before the group’s damage report supplied the official phrase, coach Mike McDaniel famous it was leaning in that course when his Friday morning press convention opened with a query about Emmanuel Ogbah’s well being after the standout defensive finish missed Wednesday and Thursday practices with a again damage.
“Ogbah’s one of many that we’re going to take up to game time to kind of figure this one out,” stated McDaniel, who’s trying to get his group off a three-game shedding streak. “I couldn’t say, with all certainty, that he’s going to be out or in.”
Beyond Ogbah, who was seen again working with group, albeit gingerly, at Friday drills, Miami has cornerback Xavien Howard (groin), left sort out Terron Armstead (foot), vast receiver Jaylen Waddle (shoulder), defensive sort out Christian Wilkins (hand) amongst these listed as questionable.
Howard was off the damage report for his groin points earlier this week, solely listed as a restricted participant in Wednesday apply for veteran relaxation, however he reappeared on the damage report for a groin ailment on Friday.
That’s troubling for a Dolphins cornerbacks unit that’s already with out Byron Jones (PUP record), has Nik Needham on injured reserve for an Achilles tear, Keion Crossen (knee) uncertain to play in opposition to the Steelers and Kader Kohou (indirect) questionable. Noah Igbinoghene might seemingly see an elevated position in opposition to Pittsburgh’s receivers, together with Justin Bethel and presumably versatile defensive backs Eric Rowe and Elijah Campbell.
McDaniel stated Friday the Dolphins, who haven’t signed a free agent cornerback, have sufficient on the roster for the time being with their inside choices however famous the group is near the brink.
Also questionable for Sunday night time are tight finish Durham Smythe (hamstring), sort out Greg Little (Achilles) and quarterback Skylar Thompson (proper thumb).
“There’s a lot of strong contributors that, in this portion of the year, are getting nicked,” McDaniel stated. “It’s hard to even have a plan for who you’re going to keep active and inactive. … They’re all working really hard to be with their team at this juncture.”
On Friday, Armstead and Crossen didn’t take part in group drills whereas the remaining who’re questionable have been restricted.
Armstead’s standing nonetheless seems encouraging for Sunday, although, after he practiced for the primary time in additional than a month Thursday.
“I feel pretty good about his availability for Sunday, but unfortunately, I don’t feel 100 percent on it,” McDaniel stated. “I feel more comfortable than the last month of the season, for sure, considering that was the first, that was the most he’s been able to practice since, really, the Patriots game [Sept. 11], which is incredibly challenging.”
The Dolphins have struggled with Little and Brandon Shell taking part in the 2 sort out spots whereas Armstead missed final Sunday’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings and many of the earlier week’s loss on the New York Jets and proper sort out Austin Jackson has been on injured reserve with an ankle damage.
Jackson, who returned to apply on Oct. 12 whereas nonetheless on IR, missed a fourth consecutive apply Friday.
“It wasn’t a setback,” McDaniel stated. “We were actually preventing any setback. We felt like the best thing to do was not put him in those situations until it was a little bit closer. He’s still very much involved, and we like how he’s progressing, but that was a little proactive, try to avoid a setback.”
Will he be activated inside the 21-day window the Dolphins have from his first apply again?
McDaniel channeled Socrates in his response.
“The only thing that he knows is that he knows nothing,” McDaniel stated. “To say absolutes, you don’t — I feel good that he’s going to be able to contribute sooner than later.”
McDaniel indicated that, past merely returning beginning tackles to well being, modifications on the offensive line are at all times in play, like with all positions.
“Rest assured, we challenge the lineup each and every week because that’s a principle of, really, how we want to run a team where you’re not gifted anything and guys are able to either earn or keep their jobs on the field,” he stated.
Flores not out for revenge
Ex-Dolphins coach Brian Flores, now a senior defensive assistant/linebackers coach with the Steelers, is just not trying to make Sunday’s assembly together with his former employer at Hard Rock Stadium a revenge sport for him.
“No, no,” Flores instructed ESPN in a narrative revealed Friday. “That’s not the way I’m looking at it now.”
Flores filed a class-action lawsuit in opposition to the NFL, the Dolphins and several other different groups alleging racially discriminatory hiring practices throughout the league. Against the Dolphins, he claimed he was pressured to tank for improved draft standing and to tamper for a outstanding free agent, which was revealed to be quarterback Tom Brady. An NFL investigation discovered the tampering allegations to be correct, penalizing the group with a lack of draft picks and suspending and fining proprietor Steve Ross for it.
“I don’t have bad memories of the place,” stated Flores, who was fired after compiling a 24-25 file in three years, the final two which have been profitable seasons. “I have a lot of good memories, but my focus is here right now.”
Ross’ ultimate day of suspension was Monday. He was by no means banned from attending video games via the Dolphins’ first six on the schedule, however he has not been seen at any of Miami’s house or away contests. He was fined $1.5 million.
An try was made by South Florida media members to arrange a web- or phone-conference interview with Flores this week. As of Friday afternoon, the previous Dolphins coach had not been made accessible.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com