Dolphins could get two starters back Sunday
The Dolphins could get two starters back on Sunday against the visiting
New York Giants.
Receiver DeVante Parker and center Michael Deiter practiced this week and could be activated from injured reserve by Saturday’s 4 p.m. deadline.
Deiter has missed nine games with a foot injury. Parker has missed four games with a hamstring injury.
“They’re moving in the right direction,” coach Brian Flores said Friday morning of Parker and Deiter, stopping short of saying that they would definitely play. “We want to see how today [Friday] goes. Both have practiced in a decent clip, some soreness. Been awhile for both guys in pads, so there’s some soreness.”
Backup center Greg Mancz also practiced this week and also is eligible to return from IR.
Miami has one open spot on its 53-man roster. So if the Dolphins activate all three players, they will need to release two players or put one or two on injured reserve. Centers Austin Reiter and Cameron
Tom would be at risk if the Dolphins activate Deiter and/or Mancz.
Meanwhile, running back
Phillip Lindsay (ankle), tight end Adam Shaheen (knee) and cornerback Trill Williams (hamstring) were limited in Friday’s practice and are doubtful for Sunday’s game.
Safety Brandon Jones (ankle) and linebacker
Jaelan Phillips (hip) were limited on Friday and are questionable.
But Flores said he expects Phillips will be able to play Sunday. Jones missed last Sunday’s win against Carolina with an elbow injury but said he’s preparing to play on Sunday.
Everyone else on the 53-man roster is available to play.
Running back Malcolm Brown, on injured reserve the past four weeks with a quadriceps injury, isn’t ready to return this week. If Lindsay cannot play Sunday, Miami could stick with
Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed and Patrick Laird or could elevate Duke Johnson or Gerrid Doaks from the practice squad to supplement them.
Also Friday, Flores declined to say if receiver
Will Fuller would play again this season. He’s out Sunday and has missed
nine games with multiple broken bones in his finger.
For the Giants, quarterback Daniel Jones was ruled out with a neck injury. Mike Glennon will get the start. Glennon, in his career, has 44 touchdowns and 27 interceptions and an 83.1 passer rating in his career.
In five starts for the Jaguars last season, Glennon had seven TDs, five INTs and an 80.1 rating. Jacksonville went 0-5 in those games. Glenn is 6-21 as a starter.
“If Glennon is in there, this is a veteran quarterback that has seen a lot of defenses, can throw the football,” Flores said.
Jake Fromm will be Glennon’s backup.
Also out for the Giants: cornerback Adoree’ Jackson (quad), tight end Kaden Smith (knee), and outside linebacker Trent Harris (ankle).
Receivers Sterling Shepard (quad) and Kadarius Toney (oblique/quad) are both listed as doubtful for Sunday.
THIS AND THAT
Flores said tight end
Hunter Long “did some nice things” in his 24 offensive snaps against Carolina.
“He was excited to get out there. Some things he can improve on. We made those corrections. He was ready when his number was called. We’ll see how Adam [Shaheen] feels today.“
Long would play again Sunday if Shaheen cannot.
Flores said cornerback
Javaris Davis “did a nice job” in his 10 defensive snaps against Carolina. That was his first playing time in a regular-season game. “It was a good experience to see the speed of the game. There are real opportunities to teach.”
Durham Smythe “is a team-first guy,” Flores said. “Whatever we ask him to do, catching the ball or blocking or punt or sneaking the ball on third-and-1. He brings a lot to this team.”
Asked if the play of Liam Eichenberg and Austin Jackson the past two weeks has left him encouraged, Flores said: “We’ve got a big challenge this week with a big defensive line, with [Giants defensive linemen] Leonard Williams and Austin Johnson and Dexter Lawrence. Last few weeks don’t really ... We’re just trying to prepare for this group this week.”
Flores said linebacker Jerome Baker’s “versatility gives us flexibility to move him around. They create a number of potential issues, with the number of skill players they have. To have Jerome be able to play different spots, there are choices you can make defensively.”