The Miami Dolphins may be heading into Sunday’s matchup with New England short-handed in the trenches, and the Patriots could be without one of their biggest offensive names.
On Miami’s side, guard Kadyn Proctor missed his second straight practice Thursday while working through a concussion, and the outlook for his availability keeps getting worse. Under the NFL’s five-step Return to Play protocol, Proctor still needs to clear “non-contact training drills” and then “full football activity involving contact.”
With only one practice left before Saturday’s walk-through, the odds of him getting through everything in time look slim. The final injury report comes out Friday, but it would be a surprise if Proctor is not ruled out.
Head coach Jeff Hafley said Wednesday that Jarrett Kingston would handle Proctor’s left guard reps in practice. Kingston already filled in at right guard after Jonah Savaiinaea went down in the first half of the Week 5 loss at Hard Rock Stadium. The Dolphins claimed Kingston off waivers from the Houston Texans after roster cuts.
Newly acquired Christian Haynes, who was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, is not a realistic candidate to step in right away. The Dolphins are not expecting him to start this quickly, and he likely will be inactive for his first game with the team.
There was better news for Miami at cornerback, where JuJu Brents moved back onto the field Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a concussion. He was limited, but that’s still a step in the right direction and points toward a full practice Friday and eventual clearance for Sunday.
The rest of Miami’s report stayed largely unchanged, with 13 players on it. Malik Willis continued to draw attention, though he was again a full participant despite a groin injury. Earlier this season, he had already shown up on the report with a toe issue and later a thumb injury.
Edge defender Rob Beal Jr. also remained a full participant for a second straight day as he works back from a hamstring injury that has cost him the last four games.
Eight other Dolphins were listed as limited. Reese Taylor, who has missed the last three games with a quad injury, was among them, along with long-snapper Tucker Addington and tight end Will Kacmarek, both of whom were on the report last week before playing in the 28-25 win over the New York Jets.
The other limited players were tight end Greg Dulcich (ankle), safety Michael Taaffe (neck/foot), safety Dante Trader Jr. (shoulder), wide receiver Malik Washington (knee) and wide receiver Jared Wayne (knee).
New England’s injury report brought its own possible absence into focus. Wide receiver A.J.
Brown, whom the Patriots acquired in an offseason trade with the Philadelphia Eagles, did not practice Thursday after being limited Wednesday because of an ankle injury. He is now also dealing with a knee issue, and that combination makes him look unlikely to play Sunday, pending the final report.
That would be a welcome break for Miami. Brown did damage against the Dolphins in 2023, catching 10 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 31-17 loss at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday night.
The Patriots also had a new issue with running back TreVeyon Henderson, who missed Thursday’s session with illness. Henderson, a second-year second-round pick out of Ohio State, has had a quiet start to his 2026 season as Rhamondre Stevenson’s backfield partner, though he did score two touchdowns against Miami in the 2025 season finale.
Starting right tackle Morgan Moses was limited again with a foot injury, while quarterback Drake Maye was on the report with a right shoulder injury but still practiced in full.
Elsewhere on the roster front, DJ Campbell cleared waivers and can now be brought back to Miami’s practice squad if the Dolphins want to do that. The rookie sixth-round pick was waived to make room after Miami claimed Haynes, and it would not be a surprise if Campbell returns and takes the practice squad spot currently held by converted defensive lineman James Ester.
Former Dolphins offensive lineman Charlie Heck has also landed elsewhere after failing to make the 53-man roster as an unrestricted free agent pickup. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts.
In Other News...
Ollie Gordon II Is Giving The Dolphins A New Backfield Debate
When De'Von Achane went down with a torn ACL in Week 3, the Dolphins suddenly had to rethink the shape of their ground game. Since then, second-year back Ollie Gordon II has stepped into the lead role and given Miami more than just survival production, helping keep the rushing attack moving at a level the team could hardly have expected after losing its star runner.
Gordon has rushed for 291 yards on 52 carries over his last three games, averaging 5.6 yards per attempt, and the bigger picture has been just as encouraging for Miami. Since Week 4, the Dolphins have ranked No. 1 in rushing EPA per play with Gordon as the lead back, which leaves the team with a real backfield debate once Achane is healthy enough to return. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Edge Rush Question Just Got Even More Telling
The Dolphins made another small but revealing move along the edge, claiming defensive end Jamree Kromah off waivers and opening a roster spot by parting with Robert Beal Jr. Kromah has already bounced through stops with the Bears and Patriots, and now gets a chance to see if he can carve out a place in Miamis front after the team decided to make room for him.
Beals exit adds another layer to a position group that has been under the microscope all season. He came to Miami this offseason after spending time with the 49ers, but the Dolphins moved on as they continue sorting through their edge-rush depth and trying to find the right combination on the outside. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Be Much More Protective Of Key Veterans Than Expected
Around the league, the trade market is starting to heat up as teams like the Colts, Titans and Chargers make moves or prepare to do so before the Nov. 10 deadline. Miami, even with its disappointing record, does not appear eager to join the sell-off. The Dolphins have taken a more guarded approach than some expected, treating a few established players as part of the solution rather than pieces to be flipped for future assets.
That stance says a lot about how Miami views the next stage of its roster build. Instead of stripping the locker room down and starting over, the Dolphins seem intent on keeping certain veterans in place while they sort out the bigger picture. There is still deadline pressure in the air, of course, and the possibility of movement remains, but the front offices early posture suggests it will be selective rather than aggressive as the clock winds down. [Read more 🡒]