MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — When rookie cornerback Cam Smith left with a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter yesterday, the Miami Dolphins were without a collection of players that together account for $87.8 million in 2023 salary cap obligations.
They still beat the Jets by 30.
It’s a testament to the deep roster Chris Grier built and the excellent job Mike McDaniel has done coaching them.
But let’s get real: The Dolphins need their best players now that the stretch run begins. The Dolphins have the NFL’s hardest remaining schedule (.690), with everything from the AFC’s No. 1 seed to missing the playoffs altogether on the table.
Which Miami Dolphins Players Will Be Available in Week 16?
Five active roster starters missed the Jets game, and four more got banged up Sunday (although two — Jaylen Waddle and Andrew Van Ginkel — ultimately returned).
With the Dallas Cowboys up next, here’s where each stands six days before gameday.
Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill
On Monday, McDaniel volunteered no further update on Tyreek Hill (ankle), who missed his first game since 2020, other than saying he was close to playing against the Jets.
Hill warmed up prior to the game to see if he could give it a go but ultimately decided he could not.
“That wasn’t the easiest decision,” McDaniel said postgame Sunday.
“But when you look at what’s the best decision for the team and what’s the best decision for him, it was a collective decision that when you’re faced with, ‘All right, do we press forward and just hope or do we do the thing that the individual player and the team needs for the season?’
“It became easier in the moment just because we have the right well-intentioned people that are looking at this as their responsibility to protect players first and foremost. I think some decisions are hard but easy at the same time.”
Cornerback Xavien Howard
Xavien Howard, like Hill, was a true game-time decision, but his injured hip did not respond in the way he and the team needed for him to play.
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“I guess there’s a new gradient that you guys could use,” McDaniel said Monday. “If you are working a player out before the game, inherently, they’re close. If you are taking it to the game day and put it through a workout, for me that is close enough that you couldn’t rule it out. So, you know, as far as how it progresses during the week, we’ll take that a day at a time.”
Safety Jevon Holland
It’s not been a month since Jevon Holland has played due to sprained MCLs on both knees. The Dolphins listed him as questionable for the Jets game but seemed to have a sense Saturday that he would be unavailable.
“We’ll continue to take it day by day,” McDaniel said. “I’m proud of him because he is earning his captainship. … It’s a special thing to be a very good player or an elite player in your position in the National Football League.
“It’s a different feather in your cap when you’re able to make people better when you’re not playing. And he was a coach on the field all game day. He’s been tirelessly trying to get back. His body will tell him and us when it’s ready to go, but I can promise you that he’s been as diligent as anyone really going after that.”
Safety DeShon Elliott
Expect DeShon Elliott to play against the Cowboys after missing the Jets game with a concussion.
Elliott’s condition has improved to the degree that McDaniel thought the defensive back might have already progressed out of the protocol before being told that there are still hurdles remaining before he’s cleared.
“Again, with concussions, unfortunately, we’re well versed in that,” McDaniel said. “And so, I just wanna make sure that he’s good to go and don’t really worry about a timeline. But very optimistic, as you can tell.”
Wide Receiver Jaylen Waddle
For a while, it looked like the Dolphins would be without both Hill and Jaylen Waddle after the latter went into the blue medical tent due to a chest injury.
Not only did Waddle return, he went on to catch a game-high eight passes for 142 yards and a touchdown.
Waddle’s outlook for Week 16 is good.
“He’s just a tough guy that has a high pain tolerance but is feeling a little sore today,” McDaniel said.
Offensive Tackle Austin Jackson
The Dolphins can’t seem to get through a game without an injury to their offensive line.
Austin Jackson was the latest to get hurt, leaving the Jets game after 29 snaps with an oblique injury. Jackson did remain engaged on the sidelines with his helmet on, suggesting he would be able to come back in if absolutely necessary.
“We’re gonna have to see he progresses during the week,” McDaniel said. So, day to day, I would say with, you know, some optimism. But there’s a lot of unknown.”
Guard Robert Hunt
After going his first three seasons without missing a single game due to injury, right guard Robert Hunt has now been sidelined in four of the Dolphins’ last six by a pesky hamstring issue.
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On Monday, McDaniel didn’t rule Hunt out for the Cowboys game.
“I’d like to see how he develops this week,” he said. “… I’m just optimistic that it’s gonna turn the corner, and he’s going to feel good. So, just watching him do his diligent work — he desperately wants to be with his teammates. I think he’s showing you that.”
EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah
The Dolphins’ pass rush unleashed hell on Zach Wilson Sunday, knocking the Jets starter out of the game with a head injury in the first half.
In all, the Dolphins pressured Jets quarterbacks 22 times — a staggering number, especially considering Emmanuel Ogbah logged just four snaps due to a hamstring injury.
“Soft tissue,” McDaniel said Monday. “Should be day to day. We’ll see for this week.”
Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel
Want to know how tough Andrew Van Ginkel is?
He broke his nose Sunday but shoved gauze up his nostrils and kept on playing.
“That’s not for everybody,” McDaniel said. “Two gauzes. So there, the information flows on like a need-to-know basis during the game. And generally, you would find out as a head coach that someone had a broken nose, but with Andrew Van Ginkel, I think it speaks to the prerequisite toughness and kind of the guy he is because he was just like, ‘All right, gauze it up and let’s go.’ I never knew about it until I saw his face.”
Andrew Van Ginkel looks pretty good for a dude who broke his nose yesterday. pic.twitter.com/GH06FrGz9Z
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) December 18, 2023
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