Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Receiving corps thin after injuries
Starters Parker, Amendola listed as questionable for Sunday vs. Colts
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins are heading into Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts with two healthy receivers and two nursing serious injuries.
The fact that Miami labeled DeVante Parker’s playing status as questionable for Sunday’s game isn’t too surprising, considering the left shoulder injury the starting receiver hopes to play through is significant enough to limit his range of motion.
But Danny Amendola, the team’s starting slot receiver, was also listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury that he’s been nursing for a couple of days.
Amendola, who leads the team with 47 receptions for 456 yards and one touchdown, had his practice participation limited all week.
Jakeem Grant’s seasonending leg injury does create an opening on Miami’s 53-man roster when he’s finally placed on injured reserve, and Isaiah Ford could potentially get elevated up from the practice squad. But if that’s going to happen, it needs to be done by 4 p.m. on Saturday.
Ford, a former Virginia Tech standout the Dolphins selected in the seventhround of the 2017 draft, has spent all year serving as Amendola’s understudy at slot. He spent last year on Miami’s injured reserve unit because of a knee injury.
Another option is former University of Miami receiver Malcolm Lewis, who was re-signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad a month ago.
If the Dolphins don’t add a receiver to the 53-man roster, Miami will go into Sunday’s game, which will feature the return of starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill, with Kenny Stills and Leonte Carroo as the only healthy receivers available to play.
Parker, who has caught 14 passes for 225 yards in the five games he’s played this season, said the pain in his AC joint comes and goes, but wouldn’t prevent him from playing well if given the opportunity.
“I’ve seen him do pretty much everything you need to do. It’s just how is he going to feel on Sunday the first time he gets hit and things like that,” coach Adam Gase said about the Dolphins’ 2015 first-round pick. “He’s been pretty good about bouncing back from these types of deals. He’s recovered really quickly from this.” Godchaux injuries shin: Dolphins defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who has started 10 games this season and contributed 28 tackles, suffered a shin injury in Friday’s practice and is listed as questionable on the injury report.
If Godchaux’s productivity is affected by the shin injury, Miami could be forced to play Sylvester Williams and Ziggy Hood, the two newcomers signed earlier this month, more than usual.
Godchaux’s availability is critical to Miami’s success on Sunday, because the Colts’ resurgent offensive line, which hasn’t allowed a sack in five games, is led by rookie left guard Quenton Nelson, who is providing a weekly highlight reel for sensational offensive line play. Injury Update: Defensive end Charles Harris, who has missed the past five games because of a calf injury, has also been cleared to play against the Colts.
The Dolphins could use the reinforcements on the defensive line considering Miami ranks 30th at stopping run (142 rushing yards allowed), and 29th when it comes pressure quarterbacks (17 sacks).
“He’s doing a great job in the weight room. I think he feels extremely – as far as strength goes – as good as he’s ever felt,” Gase said about Harris, the team’s 2017 first-round pick, who has contributed 11 tackles in the five games he’s played this season. “His conditioning, like always, has been just off the charts. I think this is probably about as good as he’s felt since before training camp.”