Sitton’s injury ends his season
Veteran Larsen will fill in at left guard
DAVIE — Left guard Josh Sitton may have started only one game for the Miami Dolphins, but his impact has been felt tremendously in his first few months with the team.
Since being signed this offseason to supplant Miami’s offensive line, Sitton immediately emerged as a leader. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, his first season with the team is over.
Sitton tore his rotator cuff in his left shoulder and will require surgery to repair the tear, according to a league source. He was placed on injured reserve Friday.
“Any time you lose a guy that’s been all-in, it’s tough not only for the coaching staff, players, but everybody really involved in the organization,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said of Sitton.
“He’s put so much into this year and so much into what we’re doing as a team, I probably feel worse for him than I do for us.”
The injury means Ted Larsen, who served as Miami’s starting left guard for the final eight games of 2018, will start at left guard as the Dolphins prepare for their Week 2 matchup against the New York Jets
on Sunday at 1 p.m. in MetLife Stadium.
Sitton, a four-time Pro Bowl pick and 11-year veteran after stops in Green Bay and Chicago, suffered the injury during Miami’s 27-20 win over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday.
He was perhaps the Dolphins’ top runblocking offensive lineman and quickly became a leader on the offensive line, along with newcomer center Daniel Kilgore.
Gase now hopes Sitton, who has started in 138 of 148 games during his career, can lead from the sidelines.
“Josh is going to be around and try to help our guys when he’s available to do so,” Gase said. “He’s not going to go far. We still have him under contract for another year and we anticipate him coming back next year.
“We like the fact he’s going to be around.”
Sitton becomes the second Dolphins starter lost to a season-ending injury. The Dolphins lost starting tight end MarQueis Gray to an Achilles tendon injury during the first practice of the regular season.
The Dolphins do not intend to move a player up from their practice squad or immediately sign another player to fill their 53rd and final roster spot. The team could make an addition next week.
Larsen should seamlessly fill into his new role.
Along with starting eight games last season, Larsen took Sitton’s spot at left guard during preseason practices last month when Sitton rested every other day.
“I think this will be a good transition for us, a smooth transition because Ted is a good communicator,” Gase said. “He can pick up where Josh left off.”
During the preseason, the Dolphins were utilizing Larsen as a backup at center and both guard positions. His own status was in question during the preseason after a knee injury, but he was able to return to practice for Week 1.
Larsen will face a tough test right out the gate being asked to block the Jets’ physical 3-4 front, which features Pro Bowl defensive lineman Leonard Williams. The Jets held the Lions to 39 rushing yards on 15 carries in last week’s 48-17 win over the Detroit Lions.
“It’s what you prepare for so it’s not a shock to anybody or to me,” Larsen said. “I was ready to go all training camp so it is what it is.
“Now, it’s an opportunity for me to play a bunch of games,” he added.