MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins were both lucky and unlucky from an injury perspective in Week 13.
They were lucky that the three injured players — left tackle Terron Armstead, right guard Robert Hunt, and linebacker Jerome Baker — all avoided season-ending injuries. But, they were unlucky in that all three of them might miss at least some time.
On Tuesday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel provided an update on all three, plus briefly discussed the status of safety Jevon Holland, who sat out Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders with injuries on both knees.
The Latest on Key Miami Dolphins Injuries
OT Terron Armstead
Name a part of the body, and there’s a good chance that it’s been painful for Armstead at some point this season.
He started Sunday despite dealing with injuries to his knee and quad. Then on his 30th snap of the Commanders game, Armstead hurt his ankle.
MORE: Miami Dolphins Depth Chart
While McDaniel suggested on Sunday that Armstead could have returned to the game, he certainly left the door open for Armstead not playing Monday against the Tennessee Titans.
McDaniel wants to make sure Armstead is “confident” in how his body will react, but he also has plenty of faith in possible replacements — Kendall Lamm and Kion Smith.
Asked about Armstead’s season-long battle with injuries, McDaniel replied:
“I am absolutely so proud of him in particular because it frustrates him more than anybody even being on the injury report, battling through the stuff. He took measures to try to get in front of this, and it hasn’t worked out.
“Having said that, he understands his role on the team with such wisdom. All he’s going through, you know, the trials and tribulations of wanting to be out there in the worst way, and then having some setbacks, he is not making it anybody else’s problem. He’s supporting his teammates. He’s completely invested on a day-to-day basis.
“I don’t think people give credit where credit’s due. It’s abnormal to play that position on a short work week, regardless, because typically for, for the normal player, that’s a high-anxiety position. Pass protection that, you know, a lot of third downs or a lot of games are falling in the balance, where you have known pass rushers, the best athletes in the game, and you’re on an island a lot of times.
“That’s not everybody’s cup of tea. People have anxiety on a normal work week. To be able to guide through stuff, and sometimes I get all the reps, but then be able to perform on Sunday, I think that is extraordinary.”
LB Jerome Baker
Of all the injured Dolphins, Baker was the most concerning. The direct hit he took to his left knee from teammate Brandon Jones looked potentially season-ending.
Instead, he should be back before the postseason.
McDaniel confirmed Baker suffered an MCL sprain, an injury that on average has a three-to-four-week return to play.
While he’s out, expect an increased role for Duke Riley.
G Robert Hunt
Before November, Hunt had not missed a game in his four-year NFL career. But after aggravating an existing hamstring injury, he’s at risk of sitting out his third in the Dolphins’ last five games.
“It was unique because we had been extremely, proactively conservative with him,” McDaniel said. “So we didn’t anticipate him having a setback. However, it was like a unique situation where the defense brought a different blitz pattern, and he had to kind of recover in a unique way that you would never — the bottom line is that it is extremely stressful and pretty abnormal for him to have to open up his gait as much as he did.”
Fortunately for the Dolphins, Liam Eichenberg has taken a big step forward in production this season.
S Jevon Holland
Holland hurt both knees on the same play in Week 12, and the Dolphins played it smart by sitting him against the Commanders.
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McDaniel suggested Tuesday that it’s no guarantee Holland plays against Tennessee either.
“I think the time off helped Jevon. We’ll be conservative with him for the sake of the football team. He’s a guy we rely on. Fortunately, we’ve got good depth at that position. I think case in point this past week. So we will be conservative in nature, but I’ll be hearing from him all week, I’m sure.”
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