MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel answered 13 questions during his first news conference of Dallas Cowboys Week Monday.
Nine of them were about injured players on his team.
It’s been that kind of year for the Dolphins, who had nearly $90 million in salary cap obligations on the bench in the late stages of Sunday’s 30-point beatdown of the Jets.
But it’s the Cowboys who are dealing with perhaps the most impactful injury this week.
All-world right guard Zack Martin left Sunday’s Cowboys loss to the Bills with a quadriceps injury, and while he and the team are optimistic he will play in Week 16, that’s no sure thing.
Miami Dolphins Prepare for Dallas Cowboys G Zack Martin
Martin after the game told reporters that he’s “hoping this week, treat it and get it ready to go on Sunday. I feel good about that.”
On Monday, Cowboys executive Stephen Jones sounded similarly optimistic.
“Zack Martin, as you know, is a warrior,” Jones said on 105.3 The Fan. “He had that injury going into the game, he had a bruise there and, unfortunately, got another one on the same spot.”
“There’s no one I would count on more to answer the bell and have an opportunity to play next week,” Jones added. “It’s certainly something he couldn’t play through last night, but we feel good that he’ll respond to our trainers — who will give him every opportunity to play against the Dolphins.”
It’s hard to understate how important Martin is to the Cowboys any week, but this one in particular.
He’ll match up against a ferocious Dolphins front led on the interior by Christian Wilkins, who has already set career highs in sacks (eight) and quarterback hits (19). Wilkins also has 10 tackles for loss and 24 pressures in 14 games this season.
Wilkins would be a handful for Martin at full strength. If he’s hobbled, or can’t play at all, Wilkins could feast Sunday. Undrafted rookie T.J. Bass would be in line for the start if Martin cannot go.
“His résumé speaks for itself,” Wilkins said of Martin Monday. “I don’t know how many All-Pros, Pro Bowls, and whatnot he’s got. He’s a heck of a player. A lot of guys on the O-line — [Tyron] Smith — have great résumés and things like that.
“We’re just going to have to put a good week of prep in and be prepared for that. I got to play Zack one time in my career. It wasn’t a favorable matchup for me. I’m looking forward to this one, three or four years later. It should be a lot of fun.”
Wilkins has a good memory. The only other time he’s gone up against Martin was a total mismatch.
The Cowboys steamrolled the Dolphins 31-6 back in 2019, rushing for 235 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries (6.9 average).
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Wilkins, then just a rookie making his third NFL appearance, had five tackles, but none for loss, no sacks, and no QB hits.
Expect a far more impactful performance by the former first-round pick Sunday.
“They’ve got a really good offensive line, along with a lot of good pieces on their offense,” Wilkins said. “Receivers, skilled positions, Dak [Prescott] stirs the pot.
“He’s the guy that leads them and handles business, and gets them going, and everything like that. They present a good challenge for us, but we’ll be up for it as a defense and as a front. It will be exciting. A lot of fun. I’m looking forward to it.”
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