Dolphins might be forced to play without a third starting O-lineman vs. Chargers
As if the Miami Dolphins offensive line issues weren’t bad enough playing without the two starters on the right side, it’s possible that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa might be forced to play Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers without Miami’s starting center.
Brewer, who has been nursing a pectoral injury that has limited his practice performance all week, is going to be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game according to coach Mike McDaniel. Brewer did not participate in practice on Friday during the portion of practice the media attended.
McDaniel was hopeful that Brewer, a team captain and the leader of the offensive line, would be available for the Chargers game, especially considering how instrumental he is to the line’s communication. But that will likely be determined by Miami’s team of trainers, which generally focus on whether participating in the game will make the injury worse.
“Based upon physically, that would be unknown,” McDaniel said when asked about Brewer’s status.
Coincidentally, James Daniels, who was signed as the team’s starting right guard — but lasted all of three snaps in the season opener — has been placed on injured reserve, missing the past four games because of a pectoral injury.
If Brewer isn’t available the Dolphins would be forced to start, or play Daniel Brunskill as his replacement because Liam Eichenberg and Andrew Meyer are both sidelined with injuries.
Brunskill has played every position but left tackle during his seven-year career and spent 25 games filling in as the first-team right guard at the end of Miami’s 31-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills after he replaced Kion Smith, who has been filling in for Daniels.
Cole Strange replaced Smith as Miami’s starting right guard, becoming the fourth player to serve that role this season. Larry Borom, who has a thumb injury, has spent the past four games as Miami’s starting right tackle, replacing Austin Jackson, who re-aggravated a foot injury in the season opener and has been placed on injured reserve.
Daniels, Jackson, Meyer and Eichenberg (who is on the physically unable to perform list) are eligible to return to the active roster, but none are healthy enough to do so.
Meyer, who shined as Miami’s backup center during training camp, has an elbow injury he sustained before the exhibition season. The second-year center hasn’t been cleared to practice yet, and McDaniel admitted that Eichenberg (who has an undisclosed lower body injury) isn’t close to making a return to the practice field. He claimed there will be “several weeks” before Daniels and Jackson are cleared to begin practicing.
This story was originally published October 10, 2025 at 1:01 PM.
