MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins came out of Sunday’s blowout win over the Carolina Panthers with fresh injury concerns at cornerback (Xavien Howard) and running back (Chris Brooks).
One of those worries has an easy fix. Another does not.
Mike McDaniel got into all of that — plus gave an update on Connor Williams — in his Monday news conference.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
Latest on Several Key Miami Dolphins Injuries
Here’s what we know six days shy of the Dolphins’ nationally televised game against the first-place Philadelphia Eagles.
Cornerback Xavien Howard
Howard left the Panthers game with a groin injury and did not return. Any soft-tissue injury for a player who needs to cut to be effective is a concern, but it’s doubly so for Howard, whose 2022 was derailed by groin issues.
McDaniel said Howard is “day-to-day,” adding that “we’re gonna see how X calms down and responds to treatment.”
MORE: Miami Dolphins Depth Chart
If Howard cannot go, the Dolphins will have to face A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith without their top two corners (Jalen Ramsey is the other).
The Dolphins’ top three corners after Howard got hurt were Eli Apple, Kader Kohou, and Parry Nickerson.
When asked how they played, McDaniel replied:
“There was some definite development. I thought it started in the week of practice. But there was a couple of things that I thought we took away that are problem plays that they’ve had success on.
“I thought there was a couple of instances that, from an onlooker, you could blame some of the perimeter guys for some completions that had more to do with underneath coverage issues. Overall, I thought they competed and played pretty well.”
Other options that could be available to the Dolphins this week if Howard cannot go are Justin Bethel, Cam Smith, and Nik Needham (who was still on PUP as of Monday).
Running Back Chris Brooks
Two Dolphins rookie running backs — Brooks and De’Von Achane — not only made the Dolphins’ 53 but have played significant roles early in their career. Now, both are dealing with not-insignificant injuries.
Brooks left the field Sunday on a cart after suffering an ankle injury.
McDaniel suggested Monday that he suffered a multi-week injury, which raises the prospect that he will join Achane on IR.
That leaves the Dolphins with just two healthy running backs on their active roster — Raheem Mostert and Salvon Ahmed — which makes it almost a given that Jeff Wilson Jr. will be brought back from IR this week and play Sunday against the Eagles.
“I think that he was prepared enough to play,” McDaniel said of Wilson. “The game plan, with regard to the entire team and the scope of what was going on with the team, it kind of necessitated us to have that [roster] spot, you know, directed somewhere else, I think. He was more than prepared, and you know, we’re very aware of the windows.”
Center Connor Williams
Williams missed his second game in three weeks with a groin injury and seems unlikely to practice Wednesday.
MORE: Week 7 NFL Power Rankings
That would mean Liam Eichenberg would begin the week preparing to start against a ferocious Eagles front. It should be said that Eichenberg showed improvement in his second start at center compared to his first.
“So I expected some comfort level in his game and some things that, him being able to execute things that maybe he might not have his first rep,” McDaniel said. “It was a pretty safe bet considering, you know, it was the first ever time that he had never done that in a game.
“So, I saw him handling that position. … Step one is making the right call before the snap, step two is executing the snap, and step three is the actual play. Well, even before you get the ball snapped, your conviction and how you authoritatively make a declaration or set a combination target — that has implications.
“So, you know, you could feel it during the week. Actually had guys mid-play celebrating his decisive call, and that manifests itself in the game. I thought his play, he blocked people well, but he also did his part to help others block their guys as well with appropriate communication, decisiveness.”