Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Key Dolphins defensive starters nursing injuries ahead of matchup
The bye week couldn’t have come at a better time for the Miami Dolphins because their roster has been depleted by injuries, and it is possible some of them could impact Miami’s upcoming game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Four of the Dolphins’ front-line players on defense are nursing injuries that could sideline them, or limit their level of contribution this Sunday.
Linebackers Kyle Van Noy, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Kamu Grugier-Hill are all battling injuries/aliments that could linger for weeks, and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis is nursing a shoulder injury.
Van Noy is nursing a groin strain he suffered in Miami’s win over the San Francisco 49ers two weeks ago. He sat out New York Jets win for what was initially thought as precautionary reasons, but coach Brian Flores hinted on Monday that Van Noy’s injury was a tad bit more serious than previously thought.
“Precautionary? I don’t know if that’s the word I would use. He couldn’t go,” Flores said about Van Noy, a team captain who has contributed 19 tackles, two sacks, forced two fumbles and recovered one in the five games he’s played this season. “We just felt like that was the best decision for him and he’s doing everything he can to get back out there.”
Van Noy’s replacement, Van Ginkel, suffered a concussion in the first half of the 24-0 win over the Jets and is in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Van Ginkel, a second-year player who has contributed 16 tackles, 2.5 sacks and forced one fumble in the six games he’s played this season, must clear all three stages of the threetier concussion protocol parameters to be cleared to play again.
“He’s not quite out of protocol yet, but getting closer it looks like,” Flores said. “He was in all weekend trying to do everything to get back.”
Not helping matters was the fact Grugier-Hill reportedly broke a couple bones in his hand. It’s possible the inside linebacker, who is used in a platoon role with
Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts could play with his hand in a cast. But that would likely lead to his role being limited because it would be hard to catch a football with his hand in a cast.
Sam Eguavoen stepped up because of all the injuries and played well against the Jets in his 49 defensive snaps.
It is possible that Eguavoen, a former CFL standout who started six games for the Dolphins last season, could have his role elevated because of injuries to other the linebackers.
Davis, a former Alabama standout the Dolphins selected in the secondround of the 2020 NFL draft, injured his shoulder against the Jets. His presence is critical to the defense because of the biceps tear Davon Godchaux suffered two weeks ago, which got him placed on injured reserve.
The Dolphins will likely be forced to call up defensive linemen from their practice squad if Davis can’t play on Sunday because Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler would be their only experienced interior defensive linemen on the roster.