Primary loss in the secondary

Knee injury likely will force CB Howard out of the Dolphins’ lineup

DAVIE — The injuryriddled Miami Dolphins may be without their best player this Sunday when they face the New England Patriots.

Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard is considered “week to week” with a knee injury he sustained against the Buffalo Bills last Sunday, coach Adam Gase said Wednesday.

Gase is unsure whether Howard, who leads the NFL in interceptions this season with seven, will need to have surgery to fix the injury. But Gase is optimistic Howard could return this season.

“He’s one of our best players, if not our best player on that side of the ball,” Gase said of Howard, who missed Wednesday’s practice.

“We’ll have to make some adjustments on that side of the ball, and our guys have to step up. If he can’t go, you’re not going to replace him. But we’ve got to shuffle some things around and be in good position.”

Howard’s defense would be vital for the Dolphins (6-6) against the Patriots (9-3) at Hard Rock Stadium, as Miami aims to keep its slim AFC playoff hopes alive.

Howard intercepted Bills rookie quarterback Josh Allen twice during Miami’s 21-17 win. He also had four tackles in the victory, a performance that resulted in him being named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.

Howard took a hit to his left knee while making a return on his second interception of the game with 24 seconds left in the third quarter. He missed the first play of the fourth quarter while being evaluated on the sidelines between quarters before returning to finish the game.

Gase said Howard “got hit funky” on the interception return, and the injury became a greater concern for the Dolphins after the game.

“We got to see what’s going on,” Gase said of Howard. “We think he’ll be back at some point this season. If it’s this week, next week, the week after that — I don’t know.”

After the Bills game, Howard proclaimed himself the best cornerback in the NFL.

“Look at my stats and go from there,” he said.

Howard’s performance marked the second straight game he had two interceptions and the fifth time in his career that he has secured two picks in a game.

Howard has 11 interceptions in the past 17 games, which also is tops during that span. His first game with two interceptions came against Patriots quarterback Tom Brady last season.

“He's played very well against us,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said of Howard on Tuesday. “I mean, he’s an outstanding player. He does a good job in manto-man and zone coverages.

“He’s got very good instincts, got very good ball skills. The interception he made against us last year and the one against the [Indianapolis] Colts this year were two of the best plays a corner could make [as far as] getting in good position and then finding the ball late and making a good catch. He's a playmaker.”

Thanks to Howard, the Dolphins are second in the NFL with 19 interceptions and third with 25 total turnovers forced.

Howard’s Dolphins teammates are optimistic he can return sooner rather than later.

“He’s having a great year,” defensive back Bobby McCain said of Howard. “Hopefully we’ll have him back throughout the end of the week and he’ll come along and feel a little better.”

Dolphins rookie cornerback Minkah Fitzpatrick said playing without Howard “would be a big loss.”

“X is a great player, and we like having him out there on the field to cover whoever is in front of him,” Fitzpatrick said of Howard. “He’s a ballhawk. We love having him out there.”

If the Dolphins play without Howard, defensive backs Torry McTyer and Cornell Armstrong will likely play at the boundary cornerback position opposite Fitzpatrick.

McCain could also fill the boundary corner role if the Dolphins are not in a nickel formation with linebackers Kiko Alonso, Jerome Baker and Raekwon McMillan in the game.

Despite having 11 players on injured reserve this season, the Dolphins are seventh in the AFC playoff picture — just one seed shy of a wild-card playoff berth.

“That just lets you know how hard and how tough we are as a team,” 14-year veteran running back Frank Gore said.

“The coaches are doing a great job, and we’re fighting. As long as we keep fighting and believing in ourselves and our coaches, we can try to get this win.”