MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins will be without their best offensive lineman, potentially their best safety, and maybe their best player — period — in Week 15’s massive showdown with the New York Jets.
Monday’s historic collapse didn’t just hurt the Dolphins’ playoff outlook. It hurt them — literally.
Connor Williams, as expected, will be out for the season after tearing his ACL. Meanwhile, Tyreek Hill is iffy for Week 15 with an ankle issue. And safety Jevon Holland is no sure bet to return after spraining the MCL in both knees the first time the Dolphins and Jets met this year.
Miami Dolphins OL Connor Williams Is Out for Season
Head coach Mike McDaniel announced Tuesday that Williams suffered a season-ending ligament rupture the night before, a development that is crushing for both the team and player.
The Dolphins’ offense has been worlds better when Williams has been on the field this year than off.
And the timing couldn’t be worse for Williams, who is in the final year of his current contract.
Williams sat out all OTAs and minicamps this past spring to protest his contract situation. He was wise in wanting a new deal. Now he goes into free agency as a rehabbing player.
“You don’t necessarily replace [him] directly,” McDaniel said. “However, you also prepare a lot for contingencies for these types of scenarios.
“… Hats have gone off to the offensive line and Butch [Barry] and Frank Smith and just everybody for how we’ve been able to sustain multiple lineup changes, you know, and then at some point, it, you know, gets a little challenging on everyone when you start talking about your double digits [in terms of offensive linemen] participating on our team.
“But along that journey, guys get much more equipped to do it. Guys start playing better at those positions.”
McDaniel suggested that the Dolphins will stick with Liam Eichenberg at center, even though the third-year pro struggled in spot duty at that position Monday. Lester Cotton will also practice at that position, plus the Dolphins have not ruled out looking outside the building for more help.
More Miami Dolphins News
- The Dolphins are bringing back pass rusher Melvin Ingram after working him out Tuesday, per multiple reports. Ingram is signing to the Dolphins’ practice squad. He had six sacks in 17 games for Miami last season.
- Wide receiver Tyreek Hill is no sure bet to play Sunday after painfully spraining his ankle Monday night, per McDaniel.
MORE: Miami Dolphins Playoff Scenarios
- Williams represents just one of three injuries the Dolphins are juggling on their offensive line. RG Rob Hunt seems likely to miss yet another game with a hamstring injury, while McDaniel was a bit more optimistic that LT Terron Armstead will return from the ankle sprain that kept him out of the Tennessee Titans game.
- Holland said on 560 AM in Miami Tuesday that he’s “optimistic” he’ll play after missing the last two games due to two injured knees. The Dolphins need him. At the safety position, DeShon Elliott is in concussion protocol, while Brandon Jones needed stitches for a gash suffered Monday.
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