The Miami Dolphins have faced an unlucky spate of injuries to begin the season. OT Terron Armstead’s new stint on injured reserve, where he joins star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, is a prime example of that fact.
But the team is persevering, entering Week 5 with a 3-1 record and ready to face the listless New York Giants, who were just embarrassed on national television in a Monday Night Football thrashing at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.
Fortunately for Miami, a couple of other key playmakers, C Connor Williams (groin) and LB Jaelan Phillips (oblique), appear to be trending in the right direction after missing Week 4 with their own injuries.
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Terron Armstead Is Out, Jaelan Phillips and Connor Williams Are Hopeful for Week 5
After a stellar three-week performance aided by Tua Tagovailoa’s incredibly quick release, Miami’s offensive line looked mortal once again in Week 4. Tagovailoa was sacked just once over Miami’s three-game win-streak to start the year, but the Buffalo Bills’ fearsome pass rush recorded four sacks and a bevy of pressures on Tagovailoa last week.
That pass rush was up against a battered and bruised Miami offensive line that entered the game without Williams, who was replaced by Liam Eichenberg.
On a play in which Eichenberg was soundly beaten by DT DaQuan Jones, the Bills’ big man rolled up on the back of Armstead’s legs while recording a QB hit on Tagovailoa, leading to a knee injury that will knock Armstead out for at least four games while he recovers on IR.
Liam Eichenberg’s inability to hold his block contributed to Terron Armstead getting rolled up.
It’s just not good enough. He isn’t an NFL starter. pic.twitter.com/D31swJ9saA
— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) October 2, 2023
Armstead is expected to be back on the field at some point this season. “He will return,” McDaniel said. “It’s a scenario where Terron, he really doesn’t waste a week without just totally captaining our team. He’s fighting the urges to just be like, ‘No, I want to go do this.’ He understands the long game with it.”
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With Armstead out, backup Kendall Lamm is expected to continue as Miami’s left tackle, a role he’s handled well while filling in for Armstead this season.
On Williams’ and Phillips’ availability, McDaniel said that Friday’s practice, which always takes place after his media availability (his last before game day), would be key in determining whether they’d be ready to go.
Referencing his need to sometimes hold players out to protect them from themselves, McDaniel said, “I feel like every time I bump into either one of those two, they’re like eyeballing me like, ‘Don’t you dare.’ But I will dare if I have to. They’re both doing well … [Today will] be a big day for those guys. I can tell you one thing: They are trying hard.”
The Giants are facing a litany of injury problems of their own. Star running back Saquon Barkley, the engine of New York’s offense, has been out for several weeks due to an ankle injury and is questionable to play. Given the fact that he suffered a high ankle sprain just three weeks ago, it’s unlikely that he’d be at 100% even if he’s able to suit up.
On Barkley’s potential availability, ESPN reporter Jordan Raanan said on Thursday that he’s “not overly optimistic” about Barkley’s status, even though Barkley said he was in a “better spot” than he was last week.
Big Blue will be without three of the team’s top offensive linemen. LT Andrew Thomas (hamstring), C John Michael Schmitz (shoulder), and G Shane Lemieux (groin) are all out for Sunday’s contest.
After a Week 4 loss in which Miami’s defensive line failed to apply much pressure on Bills QB Josh Allen, the Giants present a get-right matchup for Christian Wilkins, Bradley Chubb, and Co. after QB Daniel Jones endured 11 sacks at the hands of the Seahawks last week.
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins Week 5 Injury Report
Miami Dolphins
Out
- CB Nik Needham (Achilles)
- G Robert Jones (knee)
- OT Terron Armstead (back/ankle/knee – IR)
Questionable
- LB Jaelan Phillips (oblique)
- C Connor Williams (groin)
- G Lester Cotton (ankle)
New York Giants
Out
- G Shane Lemieux (groin)
- C John Michael Schmitz (shoulder)
- OT Andrew Thomas (hamstring)
Questionable
- RB Saquon Barkley (ankle)
- TE Daniel Bellinger (knee)
- LB Micah McFadden (ankle)