Howard still not certain to return against Vikings
DAVIE —Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard sat out his second week of practice, but he tested his surgically repaired left knee on the side during Friday’s session.
Howard, who is tied with Chicago Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller for the NFL lead with seven interceptions, was spotted talking to coach Adam Gase before a workout with trainers, who were testing Howard’s lateral movement and the strength of his injured knee.
“He’ll be doubtful,” Gase said. “We’ll leave a little wiggle room just in case. It’s all about how he feels [Saturday].”
According to Gase, Miami needs to make sure Howard can move laterally following his procedure to repair the meniscus in his left knee. Howard, who has been used to shadow the opposition’s best receiver, will likely be a game-time decision for the Dolphins for Sunday’s road game against the Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m., CBS).
“It’s more about the mobility,” Gase said earlier this week. “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.”
If Miami takes the same approach with Howard that it 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, Cornell Armstrong and Jalen Davis came into the game.
Armstrong is nursing an ankle injury, but he’s expected to play Sunday. McTyer, who played 38 snaps, handled the bulk of the workload as a third cornerback.
“They battled all game,” defensive coordinator Matt Burke said. “Really, what we asked from all those guys was [to] just keep battling and try to keep playing the techniques and the calls and stuff we’re asking them to do.
“[We] won some, lost some, made some plays and gave up some plays.”
While McTyer allowed a touchdown to Patriots receiver Julian Edelman on the goal line, he held his own for most of the game. But Minnesota’s receivers are a notch above Edelman.
Stefon Diggs, who has 88 receptions for 915 yards and six touchdowns, and Adam Thielen, who has caught a league-leading 103 passes for 1,236 yards and nine touchdowns, should be the toughest receiver duo the Dolphins have faced this season.
Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has a 98.4 passer rating this season, is completing 70.6 percent of his passes, trailing only New Orleans’ Drew Brees, who is completing 75.7 percent.
Injury update: Ryan Tannehill will start Sunday’s game despite nursing a right ankle injury that limited his practice participation the past three days.
Tannehill is walking without a limp and will likely play with his ankle heavily wrapped. However, Gase said Tannehill has the mobility and movement skills to execute Miami’s movement plays, which fuels the Dolphins’ play action and quarterback read-option plays.
Safety T.J. McDonald, who has been limited all week because of an ankle injury, is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Receiver DeVante Parker (shoulder) and tailback Kenyan Drake (shoulder) practiced without limitations Friday. Danny Amendola (knee) was limited.