Concerns about Aaron Brewer’s injuries led to Kion Smith’s elevation for Jets game
Concerns about center Aaron Brewer’s numerous injuries led to the surprising elevation of a Miami Dolphins practice squad player, and led to Kendall Lamm being inactive for the second time this season.
Reserve Kion Smith, who was demoted from the 53-man roster to the practice squad last week, so Austin Jackson could return to the starting lineup, was made active for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets. That led to Lamm, the top backup offensive tackle, who primarily plays left tackle throughout his career, was made inactive.
Smith has experience playing both guard and tackle for the Dolphins and those skills will be needed is Brewer suffers a setback with the ankle, neck and knee injury he’s been nursing for the past couple of weeks. Brewer prides himself on his toughness, which has led to him playing 73 straight NFL games, but expect the Dolphins to pull him if he struggles, or suffers a setback.
Cole Strange, who is starting at right guard, and Daniel Brunskill, who is heavy utilized in Miami’s heavy package, which features six offensive linemen, are the options to replace him at center. If that takes place Smith would likely be used at guard.
Larry Borom’s presence as a backup because of Jackson’s return to the starting lineup minimizes the need to have Lamm active.
Also active for Sunday’s game is safety Elijah Campbell, the team’s top special teams player, and nose tackle Benito Jones, who has been nursing a troublesome ankle injury.
Campbell suffered an ankle injury earlier this week and was listed as questionable headed into the game.
Zach Wilson will serve as Tua Tagovailoa’s backup despite coming down with an illness on Saturday. That means the Jets former first-round pick, and starting quarterback, will potentially play against his former team.
Inactive for Sunday’s game defensive tackle Matthew Butler, who has been unseated by rookie defensive tackle Zeek Biggers, receiver Tahj Washington, linebacker Andre Carter II, cornerback A.J. Grenn III, and rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, who will serve as the emergency third quarterback, which means he can only enter the game if Tagovailoa and Wilson suffer an injury that prevents them from returning to the game.
Brewer
