The Dolphins have a lot of questions even after ruling out two players.
Before the Miami Dolphins’ Week 9 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, their injury report for the team appeared a lot like it did for Week 8, with two players ruled out and numerous others listed as questionable.
This time around, the Dolphins’ 31-17 victory over the New England Patriots last Sunday has resulted in the absence of safety Brandon Jones (concussion) and guard Robert Hunt (hamstring).
Hunt will be replaced in the starting lineup by fourth-year player Robert Jones, as the Dolphins get ready to use their sixth different starting offensive line of the 2023 season.
The return of starting safety Jevon Holland, who missed the New England game due to a concussion of his own but wasn’t even listed on the injury report this week after exiting the protocol, corresponds with Jones’ absence.
Leading the group of eight dubious players this week is tackle Terron Armstead, who recently finished his first training camp following his designation to return from injured reserve. For him to be able to play against the Chiefs on Saturday, the Dolphins must activate him by 4 p.m. ET.
Also listed as questionable were WR Braxton Berrios (hamstring), CB Justin Bethel (foot), WR River Cracraft (shoulder), CB Xavien Howard (groin), CB Nik Needham (Achilles), TE Durham Smythe (ankle) and C Connor Williams (groin).
All eight players listed as questionable were limited participants in practice the past two days.
Running back Raheem Mostert (ankle) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (knee) also were limited in practice the past two days, but neither got a game status designation, indicating they’ll be ready to go Sunday.
If Smythe can’t play, it likely would mean a bigger work load for rookie free agent Julian Hill or maybe even fullback Alec Ingold.
Cracraft, like Armstead, remains on IR and there’s probably no great urgency to activate him given the team’s depth at wide receiver, particularly if Berrios is able to play against the Chiefs.
Howard has missed the past two games with his groin injury and his return obviously would give the Dolphins the highly regarded cornerback tandem with him and Ramsey.
CHIEFS INJURY REPORT
The Kansas City final injury report was much shorter than that of the Dolphins and involved only one player being ruled out, running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire, who actually was ruled out Thursday because of an illness.
Starting linebacker Willie Gay (lower back) was listed as questionable after being limited in practice the past two days. Also listed as questionable was wide receiver Richie James, who is on IR because of a knee injury but was a full participant in practice all week.
We also should mention that QB Patrick Mahomes was on the injury report this week with a left hand injury, but he was a full participant all three days and didn’t get a game status designation.
And running back Jerick McKinnon, who sat out the Wednesday practice because of a groin injury, also didn’t get a game status designation and will be good to go.
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