On the mend: Three injured WRs participate in practice
DOLPHINS
The Miami Dolphins’ injury-decimated receiver unit could potentially have all three starters available for Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants.
DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson, who suffered concussions in Sunday’s 22-21 loss to the New York Jets, practiced for the second straight session on Thursday.
“They are still in [concussion] protocol,” coach Brian Flores said. “They will be in protocol till the end of the week. Both guys are working to get better. But that’s out of my hands. It’s a medical decision.”
Allen Hurns, who is battling knee and ankle injuries that kept him from practicing on Wednesday, returned to practice on Thursday and participated without limitations.
Hurns, the Dolphins’ most experienced receiver, has 29 receptions for 366 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s dinged up. He’s played through some injuries last week and toughed through it. It was an impressive performance by him,” Flores said. “He’s a tough kid. Wants to play. If he can be out there, he’ll be out there.”
Parker and Wilson must be cleared by the NFL independent medical examiners because they are in the NFL’s concussion protocol, which requires they pass a three-tier baseline test that monitors the effects of their concussion symptoms.
If any of the three receivers can’t play, the Dolphins would be forced to lean on Isaiah Ford, a former practice-squad player who had a career-best six catches for 92 yards, and newcomers Mack Hollins and Trevor Davis, who were both claimed off waivers last week.
It’s also possible the Dolphins might be forced to call up a receiver from the practice squad — T.J. Rahming, Andy Jones or Terry Wright.
Parker, who is having the best season of his career, has the most incentive to play on Sunday because he’s 118 yards away from becoming the 10th Dolphins receiver to produce 1,000 or more receiving yards in a season.
Wilson, who battled back from a season-ending hip injury he suffered last October, has caught 26 passes for 154 yards and one touchdown.
Wilson needs a strong finish to the season because his future with the Dolphins is in jeopardy due to the $9.5 million he’s slated to earn in 2020. Releasing Wilson clears the same amount in cap space, but it’s also a possibility Miami tries to restructure his deal.
“It’s tough. You have to plan for the worst in that situation,” Flores added. “They may or may not come out of protocol so the next set of receivers has to be ready to play.”
Hollins, who started three games for the Philadelphia Eagles earlier this season before being released, played last week but didn’t catch the one pass thrown his way.
Davis started four of the nine games he played for the Raiders earlier this season. He’s caught 16 passes for 2,065 yards and has scored two touchdowns during his four NFL seasons.
Injury update: Defensive tackle Gerald Willis sat out his second straight practice because of a hip injury.
■ Cornerback Nik Needham (groin) had his practice participation limited for a second straight day.
■ Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick practiced without limitations for the second straight day despite the sore right shoulder he’s nursing.
■ Fullback Chandler Cox has been limited for the past two practices because of a shoulder injury he suffered against the Jets.
■ Tailback Patrick Laird (hip), linebacker Jerome Baker (chest/jaw) practiced without limitations despite their injuries.
■ Dolphins signed cornerback Rashad Causey, an undrafted rookie from Central Florida, to the practice squad.
Causey, who played at St. Thomas Aquinas, recorded 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, seven passes defensed and three forced fumbles as a senior for the Knights.