The Miami Dolphins have had 4 consecutive video games the place a quarterback was harm, three straight the place a unique starter can’t end.
They’ve had a number of cornerbacks miss time — with cornerback Nik Needham’s season coming to an finish with a torn Achilles on Sunday, in response to a league supply — two beginning tackles out and a bevy of different accidents.
And the Dolphins, with Sunday’s 24-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, dropped their third in a row within the midst of all of the well being issues.
However one factor coach Mike McDaniel doesn’t need is to suggest causation out of that correlation.
“I’m going to demand that the staff doesn’t level at that to be the rationale for what’s occurred or a motive for the loss,” McDaniel stated. “I believe that’s the straightforward factor to do. I believe that’s the trail of least resistance, and usually, the trail of least resistance, doesn’t lend to outcomes that bold, convicted, all-in gamers, staff, group need.
“You possibly can take a look at it as tough. You possibly can take a look at it as a motive for X, Y or Z. I problem the blokes to not. We now have a whole lot of religion in all the blokes we have now on this staff. … There’s at all times difficulties and adversity inside NFL soccer video games. I assumed we had the aptitude to beat that, and we didn’t.”
On Sunday, the Dolphins misplaced quarterback Skylar Thompson to a thumb harm on his throwing hand. Because the staff’s third-stringer, he was beginning as a result of each quarterbacks forward of him, Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater, have been in concussion protocol till Saturday, unable to follow totally all through the week.
Final week on the New York Jets, it was Bridgewater dominated out attributable to concussion protocol as a result of a spotter witnessed an alleged stumble after his first offensive play. Bridgewater was enjoying as a result of Tagovailoa suffered a concussion in Miami’s Sept. 29 loss at Cincinnati.
“In fact, it’s not very best,” McDaniel stated. “You need the blokes that get all of the reps through the week to play. You at all times know that’s a chance.”
Needham had a cart come onto the sector to take him off and was shortly dominated out after his second-quarter Achilles harm.
“I do know Nik was in ache,” stated McDaniel, who on the time didn’t but know if it was his Achilles or excessive ankle. “It felt actual.”
Dolphins left sort out Terron Armstead was dominated out pregame after coming into Sunday questionable. Armstead, who has averaged greater than 5 video games missed over the previous six seasons, was inactive for the primary time since signing with the Dolphins within the offseason attributable to a toe harm that has lingered for the reason that opener towards the New England Patriots.
Largely enjoying by the ailment, he made an early exit in final week on the New York Jets after eight offensive performs. He didn’t journey again with the staff on Oct. 9 to see a foot specialist within the New York/New Jersey space earlier than returning to South Florida.
The Dolphins additionally didn’t have proper sort out Austin Jackson, who missed a fifth consecutive recreation on injured reserve along with his ankle harm. With out Armstead or Jackson at New York, Miami used Greg Little at proper sort out and Brandon Shell, a practice-squad elevation for a second straight recreation, at left sort out, however on Sunday, they have been flipped with Shell at proper sort out and Little at left sort out. Most of Little’s profession expertise is at left sort out, and Shell, earlier than final Sunday at MetLife Stadium, had solely performed proper sort out in his profession.
Tight finish Durham Smythe (hamstring) was out Sunday, however operating again Raheem Mostert, who additionally entered questionable with a knee harm, was out there and receiving a bulk of Miami carries, ending with 49 yards on 14 speeding makes an attempt.
With Needham taking place in-game, fellow cornerback Kader Kohou, who entered uncertain with an indirect ailment, was inactive. Whereas Miami was minus Kohou, the undrafted rookie that has seen vital enjoying time and three begins up to now, it bought All-Professional Xavien Howard again after he missed the loss to the Jets. This all comes with Byron Jones nonetheless on the physically-unable-to-perform record for decrease left leg surgical procedure within the offseason.
One other cornerback, Keion Crossen, left the sport towards the Vikings late within the first half with a knee harm.
“That positively wants extra data earlier than I’m comfy talking on that,” McDaniel stated.
Like Crossen, edge defender Trey Flowers (foot) was dominated out at halftime.
Defensive finish Emmanuel Ogbah had a again harm within the first half however returned within the second half. Star receiver Jaylen Waddle sustained an obvious shoulder harm late in Sunday’s loss, however he returned for the ultimate offensive performs.
“It’s a type of issues that I’ve realized about Jaylen, that if there’s a will, there’s a method,” McDaniel stated. “He’s a troublesome child, an actual robust child. He actually didn’t give anybody an possibility, whether or not or to not be in there on the finish.”
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