The Miami Dolphins are looking to get back on track in Week 8 against the New England Patriots and would certainly love to have all hands on deck when Sunday arrives.
However, they were missing some key players at their Wednesday practice, including wide receiver Tyreek Hill and running back Raheem Mostert.
Those two offensive weapons weren’t spotted due to a hip injury for Hill and ankle injury for Mostert.
Dolphins not spotted at practice Wednesday: Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, Alec Ingold, Robert Jones, and Jevon Holland.
Xavien Howard, Jaylen Waddle, Connor Williams, and David Long are practicing.
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 25, 2023
Dolphins’ RB Raheem Mostert did not practice today due to an ankle injury. https://t.co/AzPq4KGemd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2023
Details are a bit murky surrounding the implications of Hill’s injury, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa made some comments on Wednesday that certainly aren’t going to do much to calm the nerves of Dolphins fans.
Tyreek's ailment is hip. Not seen today in locker room. Didn't practice. Tua said we will see Hill again "down the line"..McDaniel speaks before practice, so this didn't come up today. Mostert (ankle), Rob Jones (personal), Holland (concussion), Ingold (foot) also didn't practice
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) October 25, 2023
With any luck, Hill will be ready to go against the Patriots, but it doesn’t sound like a guarantee. The Dolphins have two games remaining before their bye week (with their other game coming against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9), so if Miami wants to take a cautious approach, Hill could take three weeks off while only missing two games.
But it’s likely too soon to start thinking about that possibility, especially since the veteran hasn’t even been ruled out for this Sunday’s game.
Hill has 902 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns this season, leading the league in both categories. He hasn’t missed a game in the 2023 campaign and would love to keep it that way.
The same goes for Mostert, who has appeared in all seven games for the Dolphins this season. The 31-year-old has 474 rushing yards and a league-best nine rushing touchdowns.
The Dolphins-Patriots game is suddenly a big one for Miami. The Dolphins are 5-2 on the season, but a loss to New England would put them at 5-3 heading into their tricky matchup against the Chiefs, and the last thing Miami wants to think about is the possibility of dropping to 5-4 ahead of the team’s bye week.
No matter who’s able to play for the Dolphins this weekend, Tagovailoa will make the most of his available offensive weapons and look to continue his strong start to the season. The quarterback leads the league in several key categories and is looking to keep his team atop the AFC East.
