Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Taylor out for ’18 due to foot injury
The Miami Dolphins have lost one of the team’s most promising young defenders to a season-ending foot injury.
Defensive tackle Vincent Taylor, who has contributed 27 tackles, two sacks and blocked a field goal in the eight games he played this season, was placed on injured reserve on Tuesday because of a foot injury he suffered in Miami’s 42-23 loss to the Houston Texans last week.
"I suffered an injury that will keep me out for the rest of the season. So far this year has been a journey," Taylor wrote on his Instagram account. "I wish I can be out there with my brothers competing each week doing something I love. I promise [you] all I’ll be back soon, better than ever."
Taylor, the Dolphins’ 2017 sixth-round pick, was one of the pleasant surprises of the season. His emergence helped the Dolphins overcome the release of Ndamukong Suh this offseason. But as injuries mounted, Miami’s defense began to give up lots of rushing yards, and has struggled to get pressure on quarterbacks.
The specifics of Taylor’s injury are not known yet, but the foot injury will sideline him for at least six weeks, and limit his ability to do conditioning work during that time.
Taylor became the fifth Dolphins defensive linemen to suffer a serious injury this season. William Hayes suffered a seasonending knee injury in Miami’s 28-20 win over the Oakland Raiders in September, and defensive ends Cameron Wake and Andre Branch are both working their way back from knee injuries.
Charles Harris, the pass-rushing specialist Miami selected in the first-round of the 2017 draft, has missed the past two games with severe calf injury that had him in a walking boot. It’s unclear when Harris will return to practice.
To address Taylor’s injury the Dolphins signed Ziggy Hood, adding a 10-year veteran who has started 73 games.
Even with the addition of Hood the Dolphins, who have have allowed 878 rushing yards in the past five games, are still thin at defensive tackle.