Mike McDaniel provides optimistic injury update on Dolphins starting center Aaron Brewer

The Miami Dolphins are dealing with a key injury at the moment, as starting center Aaron Brewer has been managing a hand injury since the team’s joint practice with the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday.

It’s never ideal to deal with injuries to key players before the regular season even begins, but it seems like Brewer is on the right track to recovery.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel offered some clarity on the injury following the Dolphins’ preseason game on Friday against the Falcons.

“It would be week to week I’d say, so yeah, we feel good about where he’s going,” McDaniel said following Friday’s game.

From the quote, it’s not entirely clear how long Brewer will be out, but it does not sound like a terribly serious injury. Still, chances are good that his playing time in the preseason has come to an end. It is typical for NFL starters to not play for the vast majority of the preseason, and the Dolphins are sure to be careful with Brewer as the regular season quickly approaches.

“So it’s better to have this scenario now than for the first time in Week 10,” McDaniel said. “You’d prefer not to have it at all, but that’s not always reality. I think it will take some extra commitment for some guys to make sure that everyone’s coordinated. But it’s something we’ve been familiar with here.

“We’ve had this scenario before, so we’ll be banking on those reps and there will be some guys having to do some work.”

Despite Brewer’s absence from Friday’s game, the Dolphins still came out with a victory. They won the game 20-13. Skylar Thompson was the Dolphins’ leading passer, finishing the game with 95 yards passing, along with one touchdown pass and one interception.

Rookie running back Jaylen Wright was another bright spot on the offense, recording 55 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

Up next, the Dolphins will host the Washington Commanders for their second preseason game next weekend before closing out the preseason with a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 23.

Regarding Brewer, he was an early offseason addition for the Dolphins. They signed him to a three-year, $21 million deal to be the team’s starting center.

While Brewer has spent most of his professional career as a guard, he shifted to playing center for the Tennessee Titans on a full-time basis last season.

The Dolphins enter the 2024 NFL season with what many expect to be one of the most high-powered offenses in the league. Surely, the hope is that Brewer will help shore up an offensive line that will be tasked with protecting star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Following the Dolphins’ final preseason game, they’ll have one weekend to get right before the regular season begins.

The team’s pursuit of a Super Bowl ring begins on Sept. 8 with a home game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.