Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses Achane, guard situation, AFC East. And practice injury news
The Dolphins are being cautious with right guard Robert Hunt’s hamstring injury and didn’t rush to sign any of three veteran guards who auditioned for them on Tuesday.
Hunt, who missed the Kansas City game, will not practice Wednesday but hasn’t “had a setback,” coach Mike McDaniel said, as he prepares his team for Sunday’s home game against Las Vegas (1 p.m., CBS).
“I could see him playing in this game. I could see him playing in the next game,” McDaniel said. “...We are not going to make this a more extensive injury is our mindset. He’s playing some of his best ball and we need him to play his best ball down the stretch.”
If Hunt doesn’t practice again on Thursday, a return this week would seem unlikely; it already seems not particularly likely. The Dolphins have been cautious with some soft issue injuries and are being careful with Hunt’s.
Hunt, an impending free agent, is eager to play; McDaniel compared him to a “cat in water,” noting he hadn’t missed any games in four seasons before the Chiefs game.
The Dolphins summoned three veteran guards for workouts on Tuesday, including veteran Andrew Norwell, but none had been signed before Wednesday’s practice.
Asked if any of those three would be signed, McDaniel said: “We bring guys in to look at new players. It’s part of the process, try to get in front of things that could potentially happen.”
If Hunt remains out Sunday - which wouldn’t be surprising - then Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton are expected to start at guard.
The Dolphins will have receiver River Cracraft back this week and there’s a good chance that De’Von Achane could be back.
With Achane, “We feel very good where he’s headed,” McDaniel said. “If he’s ready to roll in this game, he will play. If not,.. we will wait another week and see if he can play then. We feel good about where he’s at. He’s come a long way in a short period of time....
“It feels like he’s not a rookie within the locker room, and that’s what the locker room needed from him,” McDaniel said. “...We don’t have time for rookies any more, and he acted like a pro Monday.”
Achane is averaging an eye-popping 12.1 yards per rush on 38 carries.
Would McDaniel ease him back in or play him immediately after he’s activated? “I do know that he really wants to play,” McDaniel said. “He was communicating to me: ‘I can go on road trips, right?’ A guy who had never lived outside of Texas is a full-fledged Floridian now.”
Cracraft, who missed six games with a shoulder injury, might be the Dolphins’ best blocking wide receiver and has three touchdowns in 15 receptions for Miami over two seasons.
McDaniel addressed what’s appealing about Cracraft:
“There is a commonality with guys that are vested veterans that have been at it for multiple years and have been cut. Just getting cut from a team, people don’t give its due to the full weight of that. He’s been cut multiple times and made that a part of who he is. There is no detail left unnoticed, no page not turned in terms of how he prepares.
“When you put your best foot forward for an extended amount of time, karma has an interesting way of working itself out. When it is your moment, no matter how many times you’re feeling you’re getting the short end of the stick, he was prepared for his opportunity on a team that’s very talented. I didn’t take votes but I don’t think it was voted in 2022 he was going to make the team... I’m fired up for him [returning].”
Cracraft might be needed for significant work on Sunday if Braxton Berrios and Chase Claypool cannot play after missing practice on Wednesday.
Also missing from Wednesday practice: Hunt, guard Robert Jones (knee), fullback Alec Ingold and tight end Durham Smythe.
▪ With the Dolphins (6-3) holding a 1.5 game lead over 5-5 Buffalo, McDaniel was asked how important it is to win the AFC East.
“The goal is to win the division. That’s the only way you can ensure you’re in the playoffs and have a home game in the playoffs, and set yourself up for a journey, not a game.”
Only 10 wild card teams have made the Super Bowl.
Here’s my six-pack of Wednesday Dolphins nuggets, with notes on Tua Tagovailoa, the Kevin Harlan effect on Dolphins games and more.
This story was originally published November 15, 2023 at 1:26 PM.
