MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday left tackle Terron Armstead should be back from a knee injury “sooner” than later but stopped short of giving a timeline for return.
Armstead was one of four players placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list ahead of Wednesday’s first training camp practice of 2023. The others: Cornerback Nik Needham, offensive tackle Isaiah Wynn, and tight end Tanner Conner.
“I feel pretty good about each and every one of them in terms of, where they’re at, where they need to be, and where they’re going,” McDaniel said.
When Will Terron Armstead Return to Practice?
Expect for the Dolphins to err on the side of caution all year with Armstead. Since the Saints made him a full-time starter in 2014, Armstead has appeared in just 107 of 146 possible games due to a series of issues.
Prior to 2022, he missed time with pec, knee, and ankle injuries, to name a few. The Dolphins put Armstead on a veteran maintenance program last fall, and we expect them to do the same in 2023.
As a part of the active/PUP list, Armstead counts against the Dolphins’ 90-man roster, but he can come off that list and practice at any time during training camp and the preseason.
However, if Armstead still cannot practice once the season begins, the Dolphins have the option of putting him on the reserve/PUP list, which would keep him out of at least the team’s first four games. He would not count against the team’s 53-man roster in that situation.
What Is Terron Armstead’s Injury?
On the Dolphins’ final injury report of 2022, they reported that Armstead needed medical treatment on his toe, pec, knee, and hip. Most of those injuries have healed in the six months since. But not all have, at least not completely.
Fox 640’s Andy Slater first reported that Armstead had his knee scoped a month ago.
McDaniel on Wednesday confirmed that Armstead had a knee cleanup but did not get into specifics about the procedure.
What Are the Team’s Options If Armstead Misses Time?
Given that the Dolphins’ first regular-season game isn’t until Sept. 10, it would be a major surprise if this injury keeps Armstead out of action in NFL Week 1.
But if, for some reason, it does, Miami would presumably turn to one of his backups: Wynn (assuming he’s healthy enough to play), Kendall Lamm, or Cedric Ogbuehi.
Wynn and Ogbuehi were offseason free agent signings by the Dolphins, while Lamm appeared in one game for Miami during the regular season in 2022.