Woes on the offensive line continue with Webb injury
DAVIE The Miami Dolphins’ offensive line, which has been decimated by injuries, could face yet another setback, a week after playing its best game.
The Dolphins already have used five different starting combinations in six games because of injuries. They could add to that total after J’Marcus Webb suffered a left shin injury in Sunday’s 31-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills. In that game, Miami rushed for a season-high 109 yards and allowed only one sack.
Webb, an eight-year veteran who has started the last three games at left tackle, practiced Thursday without limitations. Webb showed good movement skills during position drills, but will need to do that all week to be cleared for Monday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“He’s doing everything he can to get back out there. He’s a tough kid and wants to play, wants to practice,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “We’ll see how J’Marcus is feeling.”
The Dolphins do have a few options if Webb is forced to miss the nationally televised game.
Jesse Davis started the first three games at left tackle, but a right elbow elbow injury he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys and Webb’s performance as his replacement at left tackle, encouraged the coaching staff to move him to right tackle.
Davis, who started the previous two seasons at right guard, has bounced around, playing three positions on the offensive line since the spring. However, he’s expressed a desire to settle into one position. But if need be, Davis is open to replacing Webb.
Isaiah Prince, the Dolphins’ 2019 sixth-round pick, spent his entire career at Ohio State as a right tackle. The Dolphins have been cross-training the rookie to play left tackle, and he filled in for Webb last week.
However, expecting Prince, who started one game this season at right tackle, to play the most important position on the offensive line with limited experience is risky because he’d be facing the opposition’s best pass rusher.
Miami’s other options are to play five-year veteran Andrew Donnal, who has started six of the 26 games he’s played since 2015.
But the hope is that Webb will be healthy enough to play on Monday night, and an extra day of rest, which is what this game provides, might be just what the doctor ordered.
The Dolphins played without starting center Daniel Kilgore against the Bills because of a knee injury.
Kilgore didn’t practice on Thursday and his status remains uncertain. If Kilgore doesn’t play against the Steelers, Evan Boehm will replace him at center, and Shaq Calhoun, an undrafted rookie from Mississippi State, will start his second right guard.
Calhoun and cornerback Ken Webster had their participation limited in Thursday’s practice because of an illness. straight game at
Injury update: Dolphins safety Reshad Jones continues to be sidelined due to a chest injury he suffered two weeks ago.
With Bobby McCain expected to be suspended or benched for part of the Steelers game because of his involvement in a spitting incident with a Bills fan, the Dolphins could begin Monday night’s game with two backups or cornerbacks playing both safety spots.
Eric Rowe, a cornerback, played most of the Bills game as Jones’ replacement at strong safety, and he’ll likely continue in that role because of the lack of depth in the secondary.
Safety Steven Parker, who started two of the five games he’s played this season, didn’t play at all against the Bills.
Cornerback Xavien Howard, who has missed the last two games because of knee soreness, continues to practice on a limited basis.
Defensive end Avery Moss, who missed the Bills game because of a sprained right ankle, returned to practice on Thursday on a limited basis. Moss, who started four games this season and has 16 tackles, is viewed as the team’s best edge setter.