Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard’s injured groin is trending in the right direction. But there’s still great uncertainty about his availability for Sunday’s epic showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles.
We run through the latest news in our Week 7 Thursday Dolphins practice report and injury update.
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!
Miami Dolphins Practice Report: Xavien Howard Returns to Practice
A day after sitting out Wednesday’s practice to rest his soft-tissue injury, Howard is expected to work Thursday on a limited basis, per Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, according to reporters present for his weekly news conference.
Vic Fangio said Xavien Howard will be limited today because of the groin injury.
“We’ll see how he progresses the rest of the week,” Fangio said about the Pro Bowl CB.
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 19, 2023
Howard’s status — day to day — remains unchanged, Fangio said.
Translation?
The Dolphins need to see how Howard responds to on-field work Thursday before making any sort of determination about his availability against A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and the high-flying Eagles.
If Howard — who dealt with groin injuries for basically all of 2022, and his productivity suffered because of it — cannot go, the Dolphins don’t have a lot of great options.
Jalen Ramsey (knee) has already been ruled out for this week’s game. Kader Kohou is locked into one of the starting cornerback spots, even though he has allowed 80% of the passes thrown his way to be completed and has a 127.1 passer rating against.
MORE: How Soon Will Jalen Ramsey Appear in a Game?
Beyond that, it’s even messier.
Eli Apple will presumably work the other boundary corner spot. After that, it’s unclear. Nik Needham could make his 2023 debut this week, but Fangio suggested he sees Needham more as a nickel or dime DB, or even a safety.
Then there’s rookie Cam Smith, the second-round pick who saw his first snaps on defense in Week 6. Fangio said that Smith has gotten more work in practice and “you never know” when he might be needed.
UPDATED (1:35 p.m.): Per the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Connor Williams, Kendall Lamm, and Alec Ingold also were back at practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday. Andrew Van Ginkel was absent.
Miami Dolphins vs. Philadelphia Eagles Injury Report
Eagles
Did Not Practice
- S Reed Blankenship (ribs)
- CB Bradley Roby (shoulder)
Limited
- DT Jalen Carter (ankle)
- TE Dallas Goedert (groin)
- T Lane Johnson (ankle)
- WR DeVonta Smith (hamstring)
Full
- S Sydney Brown (hamstring)
- CB Eli Ricks (knee)
- CB Darius Slay (knee)
- DT Marlon Tuipulotu (triceps)
- DT Milton Williams (ankle)
Dolphins
Did Not Practice
- RB Chris Brooks (ankle/knee)
- LB Andrew Van Ginkel (illness)
Limited
- CB Xavien Howard (groin)
- RB Alec Ingold (foot)
- CB Kader Kohou (neck)
- CB Nik Needham (Achilles)
- CB Jalen Ramsey (knee)
- C Connor Williams (groin)
Full
- WR Chase Claypool (knee)
- LB Jaelan Phillips (oblique)
- RB Jeff Wilson Jr. (ribs/finger)