The Miami Dolphins may be heading into Sunday’s matchup with the New England Patriots missing two starters who were already in the middle of their week of preparation on the sideline.
On Wednesday, Jeff Hafley said starting guard Kadyn Proctor and starting cornerback JuJu Brents were both not practicing because they’re in the concussion protocol. Hafley also said, “JuJu (Brents) and (Kadyn) Proctor are both in the concussion protocol. They were symptomatic earlier this week, so they will not be out there today.”
Hafley didn’t offer a timetable for either player or say where they are in the process. With Wednesday already a lost practice, both players would appear to be in danger of missing Week 8.
That possibility matters more on one side of the ball than the other. If Proctor can’t go, Jarrett Kingston would take his spot, and he’s already shown he can hold up when called upon. Miami would still have Patrick Paul helping on that side, which softens the blow a bit.
Cornerback is a different story. The Dolphins don’t have much depth back there, and Brents has been their best corner this season. If he’s unavailable, rookie Chris Johnson could be forced to slide outside, and that would put a lot more stress on the secondary.
That is exactly the kind of spot the Patriots are likely to attack. If Brents sits, Miami’s defense could be in for a long afternoon unless Hafley finds a way to adjust the scheme and the game plan.
Up front, Proctor’s absence would also be felt, though Miami has more cover there. He’s one of only three rookie linemen this year not to allow a sack, and the left side has been a strength because of the pairing of Proctor and Paul.
The Dolphins do have options, but not the kind that let them simply flip everything over to the right side. Austin Jackson just turned in his best game of the year at right tackle, but he’s still too inconsistent for Miami to build its run game around that edge. The center and guard gaps, along with guard pulls, would still need to carry the offense there, and Kingston should be able to handle that work if Proctor is out.
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