Van Noy in, Wilkins out for Dolphins
Dolphins linebacker Kyle Van Noy is COVID-19-free and has been cleared to play Sunday against the Chargers, the team announced Saturday.
Defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, meanwhile, will remain on the NFL’s reserve/COVID-19 list and miss a game for the first time in his career.
Both defenders landed on the COVID list this week for unspecified reasons, but Van Noy’s designation was a result of contact tracing, not a positive test. He has since met the necessary benchmarks to play. Wilkins, meanwhile, remains out of action.
Furthermore, the Dolphins elevated on Saturday wide receiver Antonio Callaway from the practice squad. He’s in line to play for the first time since the NFL suspended him last November for multiple violations of the league’s substance abuse policy.
It’ll be a much-needed lift to a Dolphins offense that lost Preston Williams for multiple weeks, and likely the season, with a foot injury.
Callaway, just 23 years old, has caught 51 passes for 675 yards and five touchdowns in his young career.
Callaway on Sunday might be auditioning for a job. The Dolphins showed this week that they aren’t done looking for help at receiver. They brought in veterans Ricardo Louis and Andre Patton for workouts.
A source in touch with the Dolphins said the expectation is that Williams will be out for the remainder of the season, unless he makes a surprisingly fast recovery from an injury sustained in last Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Williams’ injury — and the summer decisions by Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns to opt out of playing this season — has left Miami with little experienced depth at the position. Miami has five receivers on its 53-man roster: DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant, Mack Hollins and rookies Lynn Bowden Jr. and Malcolm Perry.
Hollins has 27 career receptions; his only catch this season was a touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win against Arizona. Perry and Bowden each have one reception in their rookie seasons.
Patton won’t work out for the Dolphins until Tuesday. Per NFL rules this season, free agents who are visiting the Dolphins must isolate in a Broward hotel room and take COVID-19 tests for five consecutive days before being permitted to work out for the team.
With Wilkins out Sunday, expect defensive linemen Zach Sieler, Raekwon Davis and Jason Strowbridge to all play more. Plus they will likely get a good look at Benito Jones, who has spent this season shuttling between the practice squad and the active roster.
ELSEWHERE
Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger’s unexpected week off won’t stop him from starting against the Cincinnati Bengals. Pittsburgh activated its longtime quarterback and three other teammates off the COVID-19 list on Saturday, clearing the way for Roethlisberger to be in uniform when the Steelers (8-0) host Cincinnati (25-1). Roethlisberger, linebacker Vince Williams, running back Jaylen Samuels and reserve offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins were forced to selfquarantine this week after teammate Vance McDonald tested positive for the coronavirus. All four players have repeatedly tested negative, clearing the way for them to play.
Bills: Buffalo cornerback Josh Norman has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be one of four players and one assistant coach not traveling with the team for its game at the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The AFC Eastleading Bills announced Saturday the NFL had told them about Norman’s positive test. The team also ruled out tight end Tyler Kroft, cornerback Levi Wallace and safety Dean Marlowe by placing them on the reserve-COVID-19 list. The three were deemed to have been in close contact with Norman. Defensive assistant coach Leonard Johnson also will not travel with the team.
Browns: Cleveland activated the star running back Nick Chubb from injured reserve, clearing the way for him to play Sunday against Houston after missing four games with a sprained right knee.