Wake, McCain close to return to game action
DAVIE — Two starters on the Miami Dolphins defense could be close to making their returns from respective knee injuries.
Longtime defensive end Cameron Wake returned to practice Wednesday for the first time in two weeks after reportedly undergoing a minor procedure on his knee. Wake has missed the last two games with the injury.
Starting cornerback Bobby McCain, who also missed the last two games, practiced for the second time since suffering his knee injury and said he’s good to play this week.
“I feel good,” McCain said. “I’m happy to be back.”
“[I’m excited] being back on the field and playing in ball games. It sucks being out, but at the end of the day you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do to get healthy and I’m healthy and ready to go.”
While McCain said he’s ready to go, Wake may not yet be ready to return for the Dolphins’ Week 7 home game against the Detroit Lions on Sunday at 1 p.m. inside Hard Rock Stadium.
“Seeing him back out there is a good thing for us,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said. “I’ll probably get with him either tonight or tomorrow to see how he feels and then hopefully we’ll know by the end of the week how he feels and whether or not he can go.”
Once Wake returns, the Dolphins defense will be as close to full strength as it was when it began the season.
The Dolphins have already played two games without starting safety Reshad Jones (shoulder) and defensive end Andre Branch (knee), while losing defensive end William Hayes (ACL) and backup linebacker Chase Allen (foot) for the season.
Wake, McCain, Branch and quarterback Ryan Tannehill (shoulder) were limited in Wednesday’s practice.
Safety T.J. McDonald (knee), wide receivers DeVante Parker (quadriceps) and Jakeem Grant (shoulder), tight end A.J. Derby (foot) and right guard Jesse Davvis (elbow) were listed on Wednesday’s injury report as full participants in practice.
Backup defensive ends Charles Harris, a former first-round pick dealing with a calf injury, and Jonathan Woodard, who was recently promoted from the practice squad but suffered a concussion against the Chicago Bears last Sunday, did not practice.