Thursday’s Dolphins Notebook: Wilson, Tyreek, and Injury Update
The Dolphins injury report saw most positive changes.
The Miami Dolphins’ injury report saw six updates on Thursday, five of which were good.
Following their absence from practice on Wednesday, the following players were listed as limited participants: OL Robert Hunt (hamstring), WR Tyreek Hill (ankle), RB De’Von Achane (toe), and T Terron Armstead (knee/ankle/back).
Hunt got his first practice since aggravating his injury during the Washington Commanders victory in Week 13.
Guard Lester Cotton was the one demoted; he was listed as limited due to a hip injury. Due to a hip ailment, Cotton was not listed on the injury report on Wednesday but was on it last week and in Week 12. As a result, this could be yet another aggravation and raise questions about Cotton’s availability for Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
For the second day in a row, Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle) did not practice; six other players were once more limited: LB Andrew Van Ginkel (wrist), QB Tua Tagovailoa (left thumb/quad), OL Austin Jackson (oblique), CB Xavien Howard (hip/thumb), and S Jevon Holland (knees) are among the players injured.
Following their walkthrough on Wednesday, the Ravens had eight changes to their injury report; three of those were negative.
Both starting cornerback Brandon Stephens (ankle) and linebacker Del’Shawn Phillips (shoulder) were new additions to the injury report and did not practice. Jayln Armour-Davis, another cornerback, went from being limited in the estimation on Wednesday to not being able to practice.
The good news for Baltimore was the promotion of starting inside linebackers Patrick Queen (shoulder) and Roquan Smith (pectoral) from limited to full participants, as well as the promotion of safety Kyle Hamilton (knee) from DNP to limited.
Zay Flowers, a rookie wide receiver who leads the team in receptions with 74 (29 more than any other player), is the only Ravens player listed as doubtful for the first two days of the injury report. He’s got a calf injury to deal with.
For the first time since the 2020 season, Hill was forced to miss a game when he played against the New York Jets in Week 15, and it didn’t sit well with him at all.
Hill said, “It sucked a lot.” “I wish I could’ve participated. Nonetheless, I think that our winning and well-being come first. For many reasons, including Tua’s and Waddle’s in particular, I’m happy it happened. I’m happy with how that game went, and it also gave me a week to heal. It was beneficial to both parties.
The Wilson Method
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. made a huge impact when he was used during the game-winning drive against the Dallas Cowboys, after seeing little action in the previous few weeks.
In order to give the Dolphins the opportunity to run out the clock before Jason Sanders made the game-winning chip shot field goal, Wilson carried the ball for three straight plays and gained six yards on a third-and-2.
When questioned about what he liked about Wilson on that drive, offensive coordinator Frank Smith replied.
“Identifying the running lane and using purpose to hit it,” Smith stated. “At that stage of the game, time is not on your side, so it’s yards, getting north. He was very decisive with his runs of physical on contact. The best part is that when you watch him run the ball, you guys get to see the passion he has for what he does. He’s one of the guys you love working with every day because just his energy towards everything he does. Good, strong carries at the end that really helped set us to be where we wanted to be at the end of the game.”
