Who’s hot, who’s not after Dolphins’ win vs. Commanders
The Dolphins had their second-highest scoring output of the season and another standout defensive effort in a 45-15 road win against the Washington Commanders on Sunday.
Here’s a look at who’s hot — and who’s not — after Miami’s victory.
Who’s hot
▪ Wide receiver Tyreek Hill: At this point, it’s fair to question why — or better yet, how — teams leave Hill 1-on-1. It happened twice against the Commanders, leading to long touchdown catches. The first was a 78-yarder on the offense’s third play from scrimmage. The second, a 60-yard score, was even more impressive by the degree of difficulty, as Hill tracked the ball over his outside shoulder after he acknowledged he ran his route incorrectly.
The latest Hill 2,000-yard tracker? He’s on pace for 2,098 yards.
▪ Running back De’Von Achane: After aggravating a knee injury and being sidelined in Week 12, Achane returned to the lineup, recording over 100 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Coach Mike McDaniel said there was no risk of further injury to Achane’s knee on Black Friday and Achane sitting out was more so about the circumstances regarding the short week of preparation.
Achane’s longest touch of the game was 21 — almost pedestrian for a player who has three rushes of 50-plus yards — and he ran confidently after missing an extended period in the last month.
▪ Linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel: While outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips’ season-ending Achilles injury is an unfortunate development for an ascending player, the Dolphins had a reliable replacement ready in Van Ginkel. He had an increased role when Phillip was sidelined earlier in the season and played well. That continued on Sunday, as Van Ginkel had a pick-six, along with five tackles and two pass breakups.
Van Ginkel, an unrestricted free agent after the season, has set himself up for a sizable pay raise.
Who’s not
▪ Linebacker depth: For the second straight week, the Dolphins lost a starting linebacker to an injury. Jerome Baker injured his knee in the second quarter and did not return. McDaniel said after the game that Baker did not sustain a season-ending injury. However, it seems to be something that could sideline Baker, who wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter) that he will “be back sooner than later.”
Duke Riley stepped up in Baker’s place. But Baker is a key cog in Miami’s defense as the player who communicates the play calls.
▪ Offensive line depth: The Dolphins used their eighth different starting offensive line combination and again dealt with injuries that caused midgame shuffling. Left tackle Terron Armstead injured his ankle right before halftime and right guard Robert Hunt aggravated his hamstring injury late in the second quarter.
Neither player returned to the game, but McDaniel said Armstead was “available” to return, while the severity of Hunt’s injury isn’t the same as the one that previously sidelined him for a month.
To the offensive line’s credit, Tagovailoa wasn’t sacked. However, Miami’s health along the offensive line will be something to monitor ahead of the team’s home “Monday Night Football” game against the Tennessee Titans.
This story was originally published December 4, 2023 at 10:11 AM.
