The Miami Dolphins head into Week 9 in far better shape than most midseason teams can dream of, while the Detroit Lions are dealing with a much rougher injury picture.
Miami’s final injury report on Friday listed only three players, and none of them carried a worse designation than questionable. That leaves the Dolphins in position to have their full roster available when they face the Lions.
Detroit, by contrast, ruled out five players, and all five are starters. The Lions also have three more players listed as questionable.
One of the biggest boosts for Miami is the return of rookie guard Kadyn Proctor, who cleared concussion protocol after missing last week’s game against the New England Patriots. His return puts the Dolphins back into their original starting offensive line: left tackle Patrick Paul, left guard Proctor, center Aaron Brewer, right guard Jonah Savaiinaea, and right tackle Austin Jackson.
On Friday, The Phinsider’s Marek Brave wrote, “ In [Proctor’s] absence, Miami’s offensive line struggled against a stout Patriots front - allowing 5 sacks and managing just 74 yards rushing on 20 attempts (just 3.7 yards per carry).“ With Proctor back, Miami should have a better shot at handling the ninth-ranked rush defense in the league on Sunday.
Quarterback Malik Willis also enters the game without a game-day designation despite dealing with a groin injury for the last couple of weeks. He was a full participant in practice all week, and when asked whether the injury affected his willingness to run against the Patriots, he pushed back on that idea.
“I think that’s just how the game played out. I’m not sure that had anything to do with it really,” he stated.
The Dolphins do have some uncertainty at running back behind Ollie Gordon II. With De’Von Achane out for the year, Gordon is set for most of the workload, but both Jaylen Wright and Kaytron Allen are questionable.
That could leave Miami thin if either of their quadriceps injuries flares up during the game. Wright missed Wednesday’s practice before being limited on Thursday and Friday, while Allen was limited the first two days and then upgraded to full participation on Friday.
Miami also listed edge rusher Malik Herring as questionable with a neck injury after he was limited throughout the week.
The rest of the Dolphins’ report included Tucker Addington, Will Kacmarek, Chop Robinson, Zach Sieler, Michael Taaffe, Reese Taylor, Dante Trader Jr. and Willis, with several players finishing the week as full participants.
Detroit’s injury list is much more damaging. Jack Campbell is out after suffering a serious neck injury early in last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, and the Lions also ruled out safety Kerby Joseph, center Cade Mays, cornerback D.J. Reed and edge rusher DJ Wonnum.
Joseph is still working back from the physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury. According to Pride of Detroit’s Erik Schlitt, the Lions plan to ramp up his workload next week. He has a little over a week left in his practice window before the team must either activate him to the 53-man roster or keep him on PUP for the rest of the season.
Mays, who is dealing with an ankle injury, had already been trending toward sitting this week, and Juice Scruggs is set to start in his place. Reed missed practice all week with a hip injury, while Wonnum is going through concussion protocol.
Including Joseph, who would move into the starting lineup once activated, all five of the Lions’ ruled-out players are starters.
Detroit also listed Jacob Saylors, Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sione Vaki as questionable. Brian Branch, Amen Ogbongbemiga and Rock Ya-Sin were not given game statuses after their week of practice.
In Other News...
Austin Jackson Just Put His Dolphins Future Back In Doubt
Austin Jacksons future in Miami already felt uncertain, and his latest comments only added to the noise around it. The Dolphins offensive lineman was asked about trade speculation and made it clear he is open to playing for any team that wants him, a notable stance for a player whose time with the organization has already been marked by inconsistency and questions about availability.
For Miami, the timing makes the situation even trickier. Jackson is nearing the end of his career, which naturally puts a different lens on his place with the team, but the Dolphins also have to weigh what kind of market there really is for him. With limited perceived value around the league, moving him would not be simple, and the front office may be left deciding whether to hold onto a veteran lineman with an uncertain future or see if another team is willing to take a chance. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Offensive Line Has A New Concern After Patriots Game
Miamis offensive line has been trying to find its rhythm all season, and the latest stretch only added to the uncertainty. Kadyn Proctors time in concussion protocol already forced the Dolphins to adjust up front, and any absence there matters because cohesion is such a big part of how the interior line functions. When one guard is out, the ripple effects show up quickly in communication, timing and how cleanly the unit handles pressure.
Jonah Savaiinaeas recent play has now become part of the conversation too. Against New England, he had his first penalty of the season and drew a poor evaluation from the grading side, which is not the kind of trend Miami wants to see from a young lineman still trying to settle in. The Dolphins have reason to keep a close eye on how the group responds next, because the margin for error on the offensive line gets thinner when one spot is already in flux. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Get A Chance To Change Their Season Against Detroit
The Dolphins get a fresh measuring stick in Week 9 when Detroit comes to Hard Rock Stadium, and the matchup arrives with Miami looking to keep building under Jeff Hafley. The Lions bring one of the leagues most explosive attacks, which is why so many around the game see Detroit as the safer pick, but Miami has at least shown enough recent fight to make this feel like more than a routine assignment.
There is also a little extra edge attached to the visit. Dan Campbell is back in Miami for the first time since his interim run with the Dolphins in 2015, adding a familiar face to a game that already carries real weight for a team trying to change the tone of its season. For Miami, the challenge is obvious: turn a tough matchup into the kind of win that can shift the conversation around the rest of the year. [Read more 🡒]