Dolphins center Aaron Brewer returns to practice, expected to play pivotal role against Commanders
When Aaron Brewer isn’t on the practice field he usually has his left foot in a walking boot, which is supposed to prevent the foot/ankle injury he sustained in Sunday’s 30-13 win over the Buffalo Bills from getting worse.
The Miami Dolphins’ starting center practiced on Thursday for the first time all week, which is a good indicator that he should make his 62nd straight start in Sunday’s international game against the Washington Commanders.
However, if there is a setback Brewer’s absence from Sunday’s game could throw off the Dolphins offense.
Not only is Brewer the person who snaps the ball to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa 50-plus times a game, but he’s also the offensive lineman who declares his unit’s blocking assignment before the snap., making all the line calls.
If he can’t play the Dolphins will either replace him with Daniel Brunskill or Cole Strange, the two backups available because Andre Meyer (shoulder injury) and Liam Eichenberg (left knee) continue to be sidelined by injuries.
Brunskill started Sunday’s win against the Buffalo Bills, and has become a secret weapon in the Dolphins offense as a sixth offensive lineman, replacing a tight end on the line of scrimmage.
The Dolphins have been able to run and pass effectively out of that jumbo package, which the Dolphins have used for the past three games to compensate for the team’s shortcomings.
Strange, a 2022 first-round pick the Dolphins poached off Cleveland’s practice squad earlier this fall, has started the past seven games as Miami’s starting right guard. He replaced Kion Smith, who replaced Daniels, the projected starter who played all of three snaps this season before suffering a pectoral injury that forced him to be placed on injured reserve.
The Dolphins will have even more options if Austin Jackson, who opened up his 21-day designation to return period, is cleared to play because Larry Borom, who has started the past nine games as his replacement at right tackle, has experience playing right guard.
Injury Update
Cornerback Rasul Douglas participated in his first practice in more than a week as the Dolphins are giving the nine-year veterans an opportunity to prove he can return to the starting lineup.
Douglas was replaced by JuJu Brents, a third-year cornerback Miami claimed off the waiver wire when the Colts waived the 44th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, The final opinion will come down to Miami’s medical staff, which might recommends to head coach Mike McDaniel that he sit out another week, especially since next week possesses a ton of days off because it’s a bye week.
Brents played admirably last week, contributing five tackles, recovering one fumble and breaking up a pass.
“Extremely thrilled with the way JuJu played,” defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said on Thursday. “Regardless of whether he’s been active or inactive his approach to the game hasn’t changed.”
This story was originally published November 13, 2025 at 9:03 AM.
