Safety Jones’ status in doubt; TE Shaheen, two others out
MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins entered Friday with their two starting safeties’ game status for Sunday against the Carolina Panthers in doubt. One got through Friday’s practice deemed ready to go, while the other will enter Sunday questionable.
Rookie Jevon Holland, working through knee and ankle injuries, improved his practice workload to full participation on Friday after being limited in Wednesday and Thursday drills and is expected to play.
Second-year safety Brandon Jones, battling through ankle and elbow ailments, was limited in all three of the week’s sessions and could be a game-time decision.
“We’re taking it day to day with both guys,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said ahead of Friday’s practice. “Both doing everything they can possibly do to get out there, and [Friday] will tell us a lot.”
If Jones can’t play alongside Holland, it would open things up for veteran Eric Rowe to start against Carolina. He has started two other times while playing in every game thus far. The Dolphins also signed veteran safety Will Parks off the San Francisco 49ers’ practice squad this week.
Miami will be without tight end Adam Shaheen on Sunday, as he missed the entire week of practice with a knee injury. Rookie Hunter Long could be asked to step up to replace his snaps, alongside fellow tight ends Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe.
Further on the depth chart in the secondary, the Dolphins list cornerbacks Trill Williams and Elijah Campbell out on the Friday injury report. Flores, noting Williams injured his hamstring at Wednesday’s practice, ruled him out when he spoke before practice. Campbell missed the week’s three practice sessions.
While linebacker Elandon Roberts (hip) and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (quadriceps) were limited through the week’s first two practices, they are expected to play against the Panthers after, like Holland, going through a full session on Friday.
Center Michael Deiter, still on injured reserve, went through a week of practice and could be approaching activation off IR.
“Deiter is making a lot of progress. He’s had a good couple of days,” Flores said. “We’ll see how it goes.”
The Panthers list right guard John Miller (ankle) as doubtful to play Sunday in Miami.
Flores on Lindsay
After the Dolphins claimed former Pro Bowl running back Phillip Lindsay off waivers from the Houston Texans on Wednesday, it seems like the team will take a slow approach in working him into the rotation.
“Phillip’s a guy who has had a lot of production in this league,” Flores said Friday. “We’re excited to have him join our team. We just got to get him acclimated to the way we do things here. Get him up to speed on the playbook, on the terminology, and the sooner, the better on that.”
Lindsay participated in a Thursday walkthrough with the Dolphins and then was seen at Friday’s practice in his new No. 31 jersey.
“It’s safe to say it’s hard to get somebody ready on a walkthrough and one practice and play him,” said Flores, making it sound unlikely Lindsay sees any significant action against the Panthers. “Phillip’s motivated to give himself an opportunity to do that. We’re going to try to get him as up-to-speed as possible, but that’s not an easy thing to do.”
Flores left open the idea of utilizing different running backs in varying amounts depending on the opponent.
“Every week, the game plan could be different based on who we’re playing,” he said. “I think they each have a different skill set. I think they each can help us in different ways. I think they’re all selfless and want to help the team any way they can.”
A chance for Igbinoghene?
With the number of Dolphins injuries in the secondary, especially with cornerbacks Williams and Campbell already known to be out Sunday, second-year cornerback Noah Igbinoghene is likely to be active against the Panthers.
The 2020 first-round pick (No. 30) has been a healthy inactive for six of Miami’s 11 games this season, and he dressed but didn’t play in two others. Twice when Igbinoghene was inactive, Williams, an undrafted rookie, was active ahead of him.
“When you get opportunities, make the most of them,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer said this week of the message he relays to Igbinoghene. “We’re pretty fortunate to have good depth at that position. Just keep doing what he’s doing and working hard and keep improving. I think those are the things that he’s doing and that we encourage him to do.”
Igbinoghene has played in three games of his second NFL season with one start against the Jacksonville Jaguars when both starting cornerbacks, Xavien Howard and Byron Jones, were out. He has four tackles on the season. Coaches appreciated his coverage for most of the game against Jacksonville in London, but he did allow two key receptions, one for a touchdown, against Jaguars wide receiver Marvin Jones Jr.
Any number of snaps Igbinoghene could see would still come behind Howard, Jones and fellow cornerback Nik Needham.