‘Next man up’ for O-line as injury woes mount with Tunsil concussion
DAVIE — After investing significant resources toward their offensive line in the offseason, it looked like the Miami Dolphins would be solid up front.
Five games into the season, Miami has already been forced to scramble as injuries have decimated its revamped line. Already down two starting linemen entering Sunday’s game against the Bengals, the Dolphins injury woes went from bad to worse in Cincinnati.
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil left Sunday’s 27-17 loss in the fourth quarter after suffering a concussion. Dolphins coach Adam Gase said Monday that Tunsil is in concussion protocol, but had no further update on his condition.
This comes after left guard Josh Sitton (shoulder) and center Daniel Kilgore (triceps) — who were both acquired in the offseason — were placed on injured reserve after sustaining season-ending injuries. With Sitton and Kilgore out, Ted Larsen and Travis Swanson have slid into starting roles.
“It’s the NFL,” Gase said of the injury woes up front. “It is what it is.”
The Dolphins (4-2) are now forced to readjust once again with the possibility of Tunsil missing this Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears. Former St. Thomas Aquinas lineman Sam Young finished the Bengals game at left tackle for Miami. Gase wouldn’t commit to Young starting this week against Chicago yet though.
“Sam’s always been the guy up, because he has a lot of experience playing big tight end, if we get in any situation like that,” Gase said. “If he has to go in at left or right, he’s done that. There’s just a lot of things that he’s always brought to the table. We just need to evaluate what we’re doing as far as who’s up, who’s down — who’s doing what.”
The offense struggled in Sunday’s loss, scoring just 10 points, giving up three sacks and turning the ball over three times as the team coughed up a 17-0 third-quarter lead. Seven of the team’s points came on a Jakeem Grant punt return for a touchdown. Miami’s offense also directly contributed 14 points to Cincinnati as the Bengals scored touchdowns on interception and fumble returns.
“Every loss hurts. When you put 110 hours into a week and then you get kicked in the n--- like that, it pisses you off,” Gase said.
“It probably irritates me more than anything that we screwed it up on offense. We scored more offense for their team on the offensive side than they let up, and that bothers me. I feel awful because our defense played really well and they did exactly what we wanted them to do.”
As for the offensive line, Gase said the Dolphins will, “Figure it out.”
“That’s what we do. They’re not going to stop the season. We’re going to play next week no matter how many guys we have. We just have to make sure that what we decide is the right thing for us this week and then what we run is the right thing for us.”
With Tunsil’s status in doubt, right tackle Ja’Waun James and right guard Jesse Davis are the only opening-day starters up front who haven’t been seriously dinged up so far.
“The mentality [Gase] had the last three years is ‘Next man up,’ ” James said. “I feel like that’s on us and the guys that are in there to pick it up even more with those guys out. We’ve got to put the onus on us as a group and whoever’s going to be there.”
When asked if he could potentially slide over to left tackle, James said he hasn’t been told anything yet. A fifth-year pro, James hasn’t practiced at left tackle since his rookie season.
Miami will have an arduous task on Sunday as Chicago (3-1) and dominant pass-rusher Khalil Mack travel to South Florida. Mack — the fifth overall pick in 2013 — has been exceptional since being acquired from the Oakland Raiders before the season. In four games, the linebacker has notched five sacks, four forced fumbles and one interception.
With a disruptive player like Mack, Kenyan Drake said the Dolphins running backs will likely have to play a key role in helping out with protection.
“We’ll definitely have to keep an eye on the edge with guys like [Mack],” Drake said. “So just making sure you have bodies around him, making him uncomfortable so he doesn’t have a straight path to the backfield is a key to stopping somebody as disruptive as he is.”