Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Injury concerns mount on O-line
Status of center Williams for Sunday’s game may be in doubt
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins center Connor Williams missed a second consecutive practice Thursday, and right guard Robert Hunt has popped up on the injury report.
The offensive line injury concerns are mounting up for the Dolphins, who are also without starting left tackle Terron Armstead, on injured reserve.
Hunt was added to Thursday’s injury report, which usually means the injury occurred during the day’s drills, as a limited participant due to a knee ailment. For Williams, being held out of a second consecutive practice due to his groin injury could also put his status in doubt for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.
Williams returned to the lineup last Sunday against the New York Giants after he was held out of the Oct. 1 loss recovering from the ailment. There is no way of knowing, as of Thursday, if Williams had a setback on the groin, which was originally injured in the Sept. 24 win over the Denver Broncos, or if it’s simple maintenance after playing through it Sunday.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel is scheduled to address reporters ahead of Friday’s practice.
If Williams is unable to play, backup Liam Eichenberg would likely start after he also was in that position two Sundays ago versus the Bills. If Hunt can’t go, it may mean Lester Cotton sees his first start of the season in his place.
“I think he did a great job,” Williams said Monday of Eichenberg, who was largely maligned on the outside for his performance in a first start at center after previously playing tackle and guard. “That’s a hard transition to make, and I think he did a great job, definitely, from practicing guard and from all the positions he’s been at.”
Said Eichenberg on Thursday: “I think, every week, with Connor having issues (from) the previous week, I’m kind of always preparing, kind of putting myself in position where, if he’s not out there, if he goes down, I’m able to run the offense.”
When Williams returned against New York, the offensive line was much better anchored than it was the week before, when Buffalo teed off on Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa for four sacks and nine quarterback hits.
“I think we were able to get back into who we were and being able to move the ball how we like to move the ball,” Williams said.
Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold, who was wearing a walking boot earlier in the week, was back at Thursday practice after missing Wednesday and limited in practice with the foot injury.
Wide receiver Braxton Berrios (knee) improved to full participation Thursday after being limited Wednesday. Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips (oblique) remained limited, as did running back Jeff Wilson Jr. (ribs/finger), cornerback Nik Needham (Achilles) and lineman Robert Jones (knee) — the latter three which are working to come back from either injured reserve or the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Cornerback conversations: Dolphins cornerbacks coach Sam Madison offered a good point amid defensive coordinator Vic Fangio sticking with a decision to keep cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou on their respective sides instead of having Howard shadow a top receiver.
Howard has said that he would like to follow an opponent’s top target, like he has in the past, after Buffalo’s Stefon Diggs burned Kohou in Week 4. But Madison noted how it can help conserve Howard’s body as he’s now 30 and coming off multiple groin injuries in 2022.
“All of that running, traveling, run across the field, return routes, all of those different things, he started to wear down,” Madison said. “Now, you’re able to just stay on one side. … You’re fresh for later on in the game.”
Simplifying some of those decisions will come in elite cornerback Jalen Ramsey when he’s able to debut with the Dolphins after the six-time Pro Bowler, three-time All-Pro selection had meniscus surgery in late July.
“He looks really good,” Madison said of Ramsey at this point. “When he’s ready and they say that he’s a go, he’s definitely going to help us.”
Madison said Ramsey, while injured, has been a valuable asset in the cornerbacks room helping young players at his position, especially since he has an understanding of the same scheme from his time with the Los Angeles Rams.
Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said rookie cornerback Cam Smith is “knocking on the door” for playing time.
“Being consistent,” Madison said of what Smith has to do. “Coming from college to pros, it’s all the little small details. … The kid, he has some talent, but now he just has to bottle it up and put it all together.”
Claypool at TE? With many believing new Dolphins wide receiver Chase Claypool could play tight end in Miami, tight ends coach Jon Embree was asked Thursday if he is working with the new addition the team traded for last week.
“We’re going to have a lot of players that really are positionless,” Embree said. “That’s what makes our offense so dangerous. Tyreek Hill could be pin-blocking, then he’s 50 yards down the field on a route. … That’s just another chess piece for McDaniel to use and give us an advantage.”
But none of what Claypool could potentially do at tight end has been communicated to him yet.
“I haven’t even met him yet,” Embree said. “I’ve seen him on the field, but haven’t really introduced myself to him yet.”
Claypool was seen having a conversation with receivers coach Wes Welker at his first practice with the team Wednesday.
To Embree’s point of players being without a position, he said he does things with fullback Alec Ingold. Some of his tight ends might work with running backs coach Eric Studesville.
Fangio’s take: Fangio had an interesting remark on defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, whose 19 tackles thus far are well short of the pace he was on for 98 last season. This after he missed time in training camp over a contract dispute.
“I do think the layoff he had in training camp, after the first 10 days or so when he did partake in it, did get him rusty, and I think he’s back to where he was then,” Fangio said. “I see no effects of his contract situation affecting him, but I haven’t talked to him about it.”
The defensive coordinator also offered candid thoughts on linebacker David Long Jr. and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis through five games in his defense.
“He’s been playing better and better of late,” Fangio said of Long, who had nine tackles and one for loss Sunday against the Giants. “Still need to get out some of his inconsistencies at times, but I think he’s working hard to do that, and he’s been improving.”
On Davis, Fangio said: “He’s doing good sometimes, and sometimes not so.”