Dolphins add 5 players to COVID list
The Miami Dolphins appear to be entering their most trying period regarding COVID right when a postseason berth is within reach.
On Tuesday, a day after beating the New Orleans Saints and putting themselves in position to qualify for the postseason if the Dolphins win their final two regular-season games, Miami placed five players on the COVID-19 reserve list.
Starting strong safety Brandon Jones, who has been one of the defense’s top playmakers, reserve defensive tackles Adam Butler and John Jenkins, former starting receiver Preston Williams, and offensive guard Durval Queiroz Neto, who has spent the past three seasons on Miami’s practice squad, were all added to the list.
They join offensive linemen Greg Mancz, Solomon Kindley, Robert Jones, tight end Cethan Carter, receiver Albert Wilson and linebacker Duke Riley as Miami’s players on the COVID-19 reserve list. Mancz, Kindley, Jones, Carter, Wilson and Riley were placed on the list last week, and missed the Saints game.
Players must be symptom free and produce two COVID-19 negative tests in a 48-hour period to be cleared to return to the team for practices and games. By NFL rules the Dolphins will receive a call-up spot for a practice squad player for every player on the COVID-19 reserve list.
According to multiple reports Tuesday, the NFL and NFLPA have agreed to adopt the new CDC guidelines that reduces the quarantine time to five days from 10 days for all COVID positive players who are asymptomatic, including those who are unvaccinated.
The NFL, and all of the sports leagues, are battling the newest COVID variant, with numerous players being sidelined by the virus.
If needed, Eric Rowe could replace Brandon Jones as Miami’s starting safety for Sunday’s road game against the Tennessee Titans (10-5), which will have playoff implications for both teams.
Both safeties share the role as Jevon Holland’s safety partner in the Dolphins secondary. Jones, who has recorded 66 tackles, five sacks, one interception, forced one fumble and recovered two in the 13 games he’s played this season, primarily works closer to the line of scrimmage while Rowe works as a coverage specialist.
As for the defensive linemen, Butler primarily served as the pass rushing defensive tackle in Miami’s nickel and dime package. His role could be filled by Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler or Raekwon Davis, who all primarily play on running downs.
Jenkins is Miami’s backup nose tackle. He had his role minimized when Davis returned from the knee injury that sidelined him for the season’s first month. He hasn’t played in a game in nearly two months.
Andrew Billings and Benito Jones are the defensive tackles on Miami’s practice squad, and it’s possible they could be called up to the active roster.
Wilson and Williams’ absences could further deplete Miami’s injury-decimated receiver unit, which would only have Waddle, DeVante Parker, Isaiah Ford and Mack Hollins available for the Titans game. The Dolphins (8-7) could also call up Cody Core and Kirk Merritt from the practice squad to make it through Sunday’s game.
Mancz, Kindley and Robert Jones’ return is critical because the Dolphins were forced to call up three offensive linemen from the practice squad to serve as the backups and work on special teams during the Saints game. And it would benefit Miami’s defense to get Riley back because of the contributions he makes in Miami’s base defense, and as a special teams contributor.
The Dolphins also placed return specialist Tommylee Lewis, who was signed earlier this month, and tailback Jordan Scarlett, who was signed last week, on injured reserve on Tuesday. Both are practice squad players who got hurt against the Saints.
Lewis served as Miami’s primary returner the past two games, but now that Holland, Myles Gaskin and Waddle are healthy and off the COVID list they could resume their old roles as Miami’s kickoff and punt returners.