The Miami Dolphins will be without at least one key contributor when the team takes on the division-rival Buffalo Bills on Sunday.
Head coach Mike McDaniel announced that pass rusher Jaelan Phillips will be unable to take the field, while offensive linemen Terron Armstead and Connor Williams will be evaluated following Friday’s practice to determine their status.
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Jaelan Phillips Unable to Play, Multiple Dolphins Offensive Linemen Questionable Ahead of Week 4
Phillips, arguably Miami’s top edge defender, is on his second injury of the short season. The popular breakout candidate was unable to play in Week 2 due to a back injury, which he returned from in Miami’s 70-20 defeat over the Denver Broncos last weekend.
Against Denver, Phillips suffered an oblique injury that knocked him from the game, and he never returned to action. He failed to take the practice field this week and was ruled out on Friday.
“I can say that, Jaelan Phillips will be out, but then we have the group of guys that are ironing things out today to test where they’re at … and so we’ll have some decisions to make in the next 48 hours,” McDaniel said about his star pass rusher and the rest of the team’s banged up players.
Armstead and Williams will be among the group of guys that are “ironing things out” in Friday’s practice, and it seems that both have a shot to play on Sunday.
Both starters sat out of Wednesday’s practice before getting in limited sessions on Thursday. Armstead has been battling back, ankle, and knee issues since the preseason and missed Miami’s first two games before suiting up against Denver. Williams’ injury is to his groin, something he picked up in Week 3.
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2021 second-round pick Liam Eichenberg stepped in for Williams at center following the latter’s departure from the game. Should the team’s starting snapper be unable to play, Eichenberg is the top candidate to once again step in.
At left tackle, Kendall Lamm is the next man up if Armstead once again sits out. Lamm acquitted himself well through Miami’s first two contests, proving to be a capable fill-in for Miami’s oft-injured four-time Pro Bowl starter.
For the Bills, head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that starting safety Jordan Poyer will be out. A short-handed secondary is certainly not something Buffalo is excited about ahead of facing the Dolphins’ track team of weapons in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle (the latter of whom has progressed through the concussion protocol and will play on Sunday).
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills Week 4 Injury Report
Miami Dolphins
Questionable
- RB Salvon Ahmed (groin)
- OT Terron Armstead (back/ankle/knee)
- S DeShon Elliott (ankle/groin)
- C Connor Williams (groin)
Out
- LB Jaelan Phillips (oblique)
Buffalo Bills
Out
- S Jordan Poyer