The Miami Dolphins have been already depleted by accidents going into their vital AFC East matchup in opposition to the New England Patriots on Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
It solely acquired worse on the momentum-altering play that gave the Patriots a lead they didn’t relinquish within the Dolphins’ 23-21 loss.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, already taking part in for starter Tua Tagovailoa, who’s recovering from a concussion, injured a finger on his throwing hand and exited after throwing an interception that was returned for a go-ahead landing by Patriots security Kyle Dugger within the third quarter.
“I don’t know the severity,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel stated. “I believe it was on making the tackle on the pick-six, but that’s something that we’ll find out more in the coming days.”
Pro Football Talk reported Bridgewater is believed to have damaged the finger. He completed 12 of 19 for 161 yards, a landing and the pricey interception.
Rookie Skylar Thompson, who could possibly be in line to begin Miami’s most important recreation of the season with playoff hopes on the road in subsequent week’s finale in opposition to the New York Jets, went 12 for 21 for 104 yards, a late landing and an interception.
Miami was additionally with out left sort out Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard and out of doors linebacker Bradley Chubb, as all three have been introduced as inactives 90 minutes earlier than kickoff after getting into as game-time choices.
“They all were working out pregame,” McDaniel stated. “Between themselves and the medical staff, knew it wasn’t the best for the Dolphins to put them out there.”
Armstead and Howard are two of the Dolphins’ three Pro Bowl picks this season, each with 4 of their careers. Chubb can also be a former Pro Bowler whom Miami acquired for a first-round draft decide at this season’s commerce deadline.
McDaniel handed on utilizing the accidents as an excuse for Miami’s fifth consecutive loss.
“There’s not anybody in the locker room that is asterisking this loss,” he stated. “They know deep down that we were plenty capable of getting the job done, and we didn’t.”
Armstead was out after lacking the complete week of observe as he nurses illnesses to 4 physique elements — toe, pectoral, knee and hip.
With Armstead out, Miami began Kendall Lamm, who was signed to the energetic roster from the observe squad Saturday. Lamm then made a second-quarter exit with an ankle damage and Greg Little, who entered questionable with a foot damage sustained at Friday’s observe, was inserted at left sort out. Brandon Shell remained the beginning proper sort out. Fellow sort out Eric Fisher was inactive after getting into uncertain with a calf damage.
Howard’s absence for a knee damage that confirmed up on Thursday’s damage report meant the Dolphins began cornerback Keion Crossen reverse Kader Kohou. Nickel packages concerned Noah Igbinoghene. Safety Jevon Holland left Sunday’s recreation momentarily holding his decrease left arm, however he was capable of return and stated after the sport he was advantageous.
With Chubb out on account of hand and ankle illnesses, Andrew Van Ginkel began and obtained extra outdoors linebacker snaps in a rotation with Jaelan Phillips and Melvin Ingram. The workforce additionally elevated Brennan Scarlett from the observe squad Saturday.
Fullback Alec Ingold (thumb) and vast receiver River Cracraft (calf) entered questionable however have been energetic.
The Dolphins additionally had vast receiver Erik Ezukanma and tight finish Tanner Conner as wholesome inactives.
The Patriots have been additionally ravaged by accidents with seven inactives: Wide receiver DeVante Parker, tight finish Jonnu Smith, cornerbacks Marcus Jones, Jalen Mills and Shaun Wade, working again Kevin Harris and defensive sort out Sam Roberts.
O-line shuffling
The Dolphins had Liam Eichenberg because the beginning left guard after his activation from injured reserve this previous week.
There was a debate over whether or not Miami would hold Robert Jones on the place, the place he crammed in properly rather than Eichenberg since he suffered the knee damage on Oct. 30 at Detroit.
Eichenberg stated he felt slower than he wish to be Sunday however made it via okay with none collisions on the knee.
“Just kind of getting back in the swing of things,” he stated. “It felt good. Biggest thing was my knee didn’t hurt.”
Lamm was lined up with the first-team offensive line at left sort out in his first recreation signed to the energetic roster after getting elevated from the observe squad twice. Little, slotted because the swing backup sort out, then entered for Lamm earlier than halftime as a result of ankle ailment that compelled Lamm to be carted into the locker room.
“He’s a good player,” Little stated of Lamm as he acquired the beginning over him “Just got to be ready for wherever the coach needs you.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com