MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Seven Miami Dolphins starters or integral contributors did not in practice Wednesday — including six on the offensive side of the ball.
The Dolphins have injuries at every position group ahead of their Christmas Eve showdown with the Dallas Cowboys — including at wide receiver, where Tyreek Hill (ankle) remained out of action after missing the Jets game.
But nothing comes close to the issues Mike McDaniel is dealing with on the offensive line.
Miami Dolphins Practice Report
Credit McDaniel for keeping his sense of humor at such an uncertain time. When PFN asked him about the condition of his O-line Wednesday, he responded in emoji:
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel asked before practice about the condition of his banged up offensive line pic.twitter.com/FnWcHOe3AL
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 20, 2023
When the media got access to Dolphins practice some 20 minutes later, the roll call explained McDaniel’s demeanor.
Tackles Terron Armstead (ankle) and Austin Jackson (oblique) and guard Robert Hunt (hamstring) — starters all three — were among those missing.
And Liam Eichenberg (calf) was very much limited during the light session.
“They are earning stripes and medal with every single one of their teammates,” McDaniel said of Jackson and Eichenberg.
“The whole group really has battled things throughout the whole season. Liam Eichenberg, his performance, when the team absolutely needed it. It was, if you, he wasn’t saying, ‘OK, I’m gonna try to go.’ He was telling everyone he was going and then not, not even leading on to that he was dealing with anything. You just had to look at — one of his feet had terrible footwear. It was in a boot.
“And then what Austin was doing, you know, in this stage of the season, you don’t know where you don’t know which position, but if you’re trying to win, it’s a big task, and it’s inherent that there’s people that are willing to go there for the team.
“Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I think they’re building onto the already established equity that they’ve built with their teammates this year.”
The news seemed a bit better for Hill. McDaniel suggested that his absence on Wednesday should not be an indication either way for his availability for Sunday.
“It’s more just us trying to make sure that we have all cylinders go,” McDaniel said.
MORE: How Should Miami Dolphins Defend Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb?
The other Dolphins offensive players missing during media viewing Wednesday: TE Durham Smythe (ankle) and running backs De’Von Achane (toe) and Raheem Mostert (presumably rest). Smythe later emerged to practice on a limited basis, per the Dolphins.
On defense, Xavien Howard (hip) was also absent, although DeShon Elliott (concussion) and Jevon Holland (hip) both at least warmed up with the team.
Emmanuel Ogbah, who left the Jets game with a hamstring, did very light work Wednesday.
McDaniel said this of Holland:
“He’s doing well. … I’m sure you get the sense [that] he’s so motivated and so aggressive to attack things. We have to kind of [hold him back] so that we don’t have any lingering effects. He’s very, very important part of the team.
“There’s a lot of guys that I kinda have to step in and get involved with training staff, you know, really, protect people from themselves. He is very high up on that list having, in terms of having to be proactive. So he’s doing well though and was in great spirits today. So I know he knows that he’s getting closer, but we’ll be prudent.”
Dallas Cowboys vs. Miami Dolphins Practice Report
Cowboys
Did Not Practice
- CB Stephon Gilmore (rest)
- DT Johnathan Hankins (knee/ankle)
- S Malik Hooker (ankle)
- DE DeMarcus Lawrence (rest)
- G Zack Martin (thigh)
- OT Tyron Smith (back)
Limited
- WR Brandin Cooks (rest)
- RB Rico Dowdle (ankle)
- CB Jourdan Lewis (rest)
Full
- DE Viliami Fehoko (knee)
- RB Tony Pollard (thumb)
- OT Matt Waletzko (shoulder)
Dolphins
Did Not Practice
- RB De’Von Achane (toe)
- OT Terron Armstead (knee/ankle)
- WR Tyreek Hill (ankle)
- CB Xavien Howard (hip)
- OL Robert Hunt (hamstring)
- OL Austin Jackson (oblique)
- RB Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle/rest)
Limited
- OL Liam Eichenberg (calf)
- S DeShon Elliott (concussion)
- S Jevon Holland (knees)
- CB Kader Kohou (hip)
- DE Emmanuel Ogbah (hamstring)
- CB Jalen Ramsey (rest)
- CB Cam Smith (hamtring)
- TE Durham Smythe (ankle)
- LB Andrew Van Ginkel (oblique/nose)
Full
- RB Chris Brooks (knee)
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