Due to the knee and ankle injuries he sustained last week, the Miami Dolphins placed rookie tailback Chris Brooks on injured reserve. This frees up a spot on the 53-man roster that will presumably go to veteran tailback Jeff Wilson. Wilson, who came into training camp as Raheem Mostert’s backup and the No. 2 running back, can be activated at any time because he has missed five games due to injury.
After completing his second week of practice, Wilson has been eagerly anticipating his opportunity to join the NFL’s finest rushing assault. The average rushing yardage for the Dolphins is 181.8, which is 70 yards over the league average.
Brooks, who has 94 rushing yards on 15 carries this season, joins Wilson and rookie sensation DeVon Achane, who finished his second week on injured reserve on Sunday and must miss two more games before being eligible to return from a knee injury suffered in Miami’s 31-16 win over the New York Giants.
DOLPHINS RUNNING OUT OF RETURN POINTS
Brooks will be able to return from injured reserve the week of Miami’s Nov. 24 game against the New York Jets, but if he is designated as one of Miami’s eight injured reserve players, he will be permitted three weeks to train before Miami must find a spot on the 53-man roster for him.
The Dolphins have already utilized their return from injured reserve places on offensive guard Robert Jones, Wilson, and cornerback Jaylen Ramsey, and the plan is to use it on Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead and Achane after they each miss four games, as required by the league. That leaves three positions open for returning injured players.
Brooks, as well as receivers River Cracraft (shoulder) and Erik Ezukanma (neck), could be affected. Dolphins cornerback Nik Needham, who has been practicing for three weeks, does not require a designated return place because he is on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which differs from injured reserve. Needham, on the other hand, must be added to the 53-man roster by next Wednesday or stay on the PUP.
If activated, Wilson will almost certainly be incorporated into the offense for this Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, as Mostert and Salvon Ahmed are the only tailbacks available for the game as of Friday, unless the Dolphins pick up Jake Funk from the practice squad. Wilson is a sixth-year veteran who amassed 392 yards and three rushing touchdowns on 84 attempts with Miami last season after being acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers.
Over the last five seasons, he has gained 2,125 yards and scored 18 touchdowns on 474 rushes, and he has caught 57 passes for 481 yards and five scores. “I’ve never had issues with players chomping at the bit and then being like, ‘all right, you have to wait,'” Mike McDaniel, the head coach, said. “It just means he’s going to be hungrier and I think we’ll all benefit from when that time comes.” HOWARD ATTENDS SECOND STRAIGHT PRACTICE Dolphins CB Xavien Howard took part in his second consecutive practice after being allowed to rest on Wednesday due to a groin issue.
That might mean Howard could be available for Sunday’s game against Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, the best wide tandem the Dolphins will see all season. If Howard does not play, the Dolphins secondary will be in a jam since Kader Kohou, who has started opposite him this season, is also nursing a neck issue that has hampered his participation this week.
If Howard does not play this week, the Dolphins will be forced to utilize Eli Apple, Parry Nickerson, and Justin Bethel as nickel and dime cornerbacks.
The Dolphins also have rookie Cam Smith, the team’s 2024 second-round pick, and Kelvin Joseph, who was obtained in a trade that sent previous first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene to Dallas, but both must earn playing time and a position in practice this week.
Although Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey began training on his surgically repaired left knee this week, he has been ruled out of the Eagles game. Center Connor Williams, who, like Howard, is nursing a groin strain, was also at practice on Friday.
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