MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — After Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead suffered a lower leg injury on Aug. 17, he made his publicly stated goal of playing in Week 1 against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Well, it’s Week 1, and Armstead is still not practicing.
So the odds of Miami having Armstead available in Los Angeles on Sunday seem slim. But based on Armstead’s resilient history, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel wouldn’t rule him out, either.
Got landed on during team run in practice today! Things like that happens in the trenches! 🤷🏾♂️ We just get up and get back to work!
And that’s what I do! 💙
Mindset on Week 1 🐬— T. Stead 🎤🎧 (@T_Armstead72) August 17, 2023
Miami Dolphins LT Terron Armstead Injury Update
“I would be an absolute fool to discount or really have any sort of feeling. … What I’ve only been around like, once or twice in my career, he did literally the entire season, which was not practiced and played.
“So I have a hard time after all of those reps, [saying] one way or the other,” McDaniel added. “The great thing about Terron and myself, as well as the rest of the coaching staff, is we have great communication, [regarding] what’s the best for the team.”
McDaniel added: “I plan, when he’s not practicing, to play without him. However, I’m not gonna go into that crystal ball because I would have been wrong when I was right last year. [We] had a good conversation today, had a good conversation yesterday with where he’s at.”
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel won’t clarify who the starting LG is (good try @flasportsbuzz). But he also clarified he’s familiar with playing Terron Armstead in a week where he doesn’t practice. pic.twitter.com/0LPy35JMTe
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) September 6, 2023
Where he’s at is on the sidelines, in physical rehabilitation. If Armstead cannot go Sunday against the Joey Bosa-led Chargers pass rush, expect Kendall Lamm to get the start.
Left tackle isn’t the only source of mystery on the Dolphins’ offensive line. McDaniel again declined to name a starter at left guard, suggesting the team’s decision to list Liam Eichenberg as LG1 on its Week 1 depth chart could have been a bit of subterfuge.
It wouldn’t at all be surprising if Isaiah Wynn lines up at that spot on Sunday. Either way, the Dolphins’ envisioned starting five might not get to actually practice together for some time — if at all.
“It isn’t necessarily a negative to have things drag on longer than you’re used to,” McDaniel added. “I haven’t had, really, this many capable starters on one line. You know, usually there’s a huge difference, and we’re trying to get acclimated to the NFL game and who is acclimated?
“We tried to make sure that competition was at its fiercest, and the dividends aren’t in the way that you totally expect. You’d love a clear-cut answer. But at the same time, I think that’s somewhat of a positive as well. There’s only five available spots, and when you have more than five players, as we feel like we do, we can get kind of tricky. But nothing we can’t handle in that moment.”
Miami Dolphins Practice Report
Beyond Armstead, defensive back Elijah Campbell was the only member of the Dolphins’ active roster who did not practice Wednesday. Justin Bethel was back on the field after missing time recently with an undisclosed issue.
That wasn’t the only change, however.
MORE: Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers — Forget What You Think You Know About 2022 Matchup
At least three Dolphins players have switched numbers since the team cut its roster down to 53 players last week.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson will now wear 6, cornerback Kelvin Joseph took the jersey number (9) of the player for whom he was traded (Noah Igbinoghene), and rookie running back will wear 35, ceding 33 to Eli Apple.
Miami Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Chargers Injury Report
Dolphins
Did Not Practice
- T Terron Armstead (back/ankle/knee)
- DB Elijah Campbell (knee)
Limited
- CB Justin Bethel (knee)
- TE Julian Hill (ankle)
- WR Jaylen Waddle (oblique)
Full
- RB De’Von Achane (shoulder)
- RB Salvon Ahmed (back)
- DT Raekwon Davis (elbow)
- OL Liam Eichenberg (ribs)
- S Brandon Jones (knee)
- OL Connor Williams (knee)
Chargers
Did Not Practice
- LB Daiyan Henley (hamstring)
Limited
- OLB Chris Rumph II (hamstring)
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