Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel gave injury updates on several key Dolphins players ahead of the team’s Week 9 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany.
Offensive tackle Terron Armstead, who was placed on injured reserve earlier this season, is returning to practice. There is no guarantee that he will play in Week 9, but it’s a step in the right direction for arguably the team’s best offensive lineman.
Armstead can practice for up to 21 days before Miami must decide whether or not to activate him to return this season. If not, Armstead will be left on injured reserve for the remainder of the season. Since Miami wouldn’t want to lose him for the rest of the 2023 season, the team must be pretty confident that he can return within this 21-day window.
The Dolphins also received some good news on the defensive side of the ball, as starting safety Jevon Holland has cleared concussion protocol, per McDaniel.
Holland was injured in the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 of this season and missed the team’s Week 8 game against the New England Patriots.
Having Holland back in the lineup would be a huge boost against Patrick Mahomes and the high-powered Kansas City offense. So far this season, Holland has 52 combined tackles and three forced fumbles in seven games of action.
Safety Brandon Jones may not be able to play in Week 9, as he is in concussion protocol and remains in Miami. However, McDaniel did not rule out the chance that Jones could join the team later in the week.
Jones has started two of the eight games he’s appeared in for the Dolphins so far this season.
The Dolphins may also get cornerback Xavien Howard – one of the best players in the team’s secondary – back in action against the Chiefs. Howard has missed the team’s last two games.
Sounds like Xavien Howard has an excellent chance to play: "We'll see how it does today. It was hard enough to hold him out. … Had to look at the picture and what a setback or a nagging issue would do to this team. … I know he enjoys playing much more than watching."
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) November 1, 2023
With Jalen Ramsey returning last week, the Dolphins could have him and Howard in the lineup for the first time this season in Week 9. So far in the 2023 campaign, Howard has one interception and 27 combined tackles in six games.
McDaniel also offered an update on offensive lineman Robert Hunt, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. Hunt isn’t expected to practice on Wednesday, but the team is hoping to get him back sometime this week.
Hunt – the Dolphins’ starting right guard – has played in all eight games so far this season.
Miami certainly is hoping to have as many players as possible active for Sunday’s matchup with the Chiefs, as the two teams are both 6-2 so far this season.
With a win, the Dolphins would give themselves a pretty clear path to the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
