Howard running, but not cleared to practice
DAVIE The Miami Dolphins are taking a cautious approach with cornerback Xavien Howard’s return from the injury that reportedly required a procedure to trim the meniscus in his left knee.
Howard, who reportedly had his knee scoped early last week to address some soreness and swelling, missed last Sunday’s 34-33 win over the New England Patriots, and it is doubtful that he’ll play this Sunday’s road game against the Minnesota Vikings (6-6-1), who possess one of the best receiver duos in the NFL in Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.
However, Dolphins coach Adam Gase is encouraged by the fact that Howard is already running.
“We need to see how the week goes. We’re always hopeful, but at the same time we have to make sure the lateral movement [is there] because that’s the key to everything,” Gase said about Howard, who has contributed 35 tackles and an NFL-leading seven interceptions this season. “It’s more about the mobility. I don’t think anybody is going to be at 100 percent at this point, but at the same time we want him to be able to play the way he needs to play.
“We need to see the mobility we’re looking for.”
If Miami takes the same approach with Howard that they did with defensive ends Cameron Wake and Andre Branch and cornerback Bobby McCain, Howard will likely be shelved for two weeks while his knee heals.
Last Sunday, McCain and rookie Minkah Fitzpatrick handled the workload on the boundary, and when McCain went inside to play the nickel spot Torry McTyer, Walt Aikens and Jalen Davis came into the game.
But McTyer, who played 38 snaps, handled the bulk of the workload as a third cornerback.
While McTyer allowed a touchdown to Patriots receiver Julius Edelman on the goal line, he held his own for most of the game. But Minnesota’s receivers are a notch up from Edelman.
Diggs, who has contributed 88 receptions for 915 yards and six touchdowns, and Thielen, who has caught 103 passes for 1,236 yards and nine touchdowns, should be the toughest receiver duo the Dolphins have faced this season.
Injury update: Receiver Danny Amendola, who has been nursing a right knee injury the past two weeks, did not practice . ... Dolphins starting safety T.J. McDonald (ankle), right tackle Ja’Wuan James (quadriceps), left tackle Laremy Tunsil (knee) were limited during Wednesday’s practice . ... Long snapper John Denney, who allowed the Patriots to block two punts in Sunday’s game, is nursing a finger injury.