Ramsey cleared but Armstead, other Dolphins in question. And Mostert reacts to no carries
Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who had a knee issue surface late this week, will play on Sunday when the Raiders visit Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., CBS 4). He was limited in practice on Thursday and Friday but does not have an injury designation for the game.
But Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead was listed as questionable because of a knee issue.
Armstead did not practice at all this week because of what was listed on the injury report as “rest/knee.” Per team policy, he could not speak with reporters this week because he did not practice.
Armstead has played in eight of the Dolphins’ nine games this season and played every offensive snap of Miami’s 23-15 win at the Rams on Monday.
Miami already is without starting right tackle Austin Jackson for the remainder of the season after knee surgery. Kendall Lamm will continue to start at right tackle. Rookie Patrick Paul likely would start at left tackle if Armstead cannot play Sunday.
Four other Dolphins are listed as questionable: fullback Alec Ingold (calf), guard Robert Jones (knee), safety Patrick McMorris (calf) and guard Isaiah Wynn (quad/knee).
Coach Mike McDaniel said it’s “50-50” if Ingold will play; he missed the Rams game with a calf injury. McDaniel said he’s optimistic that Jones will play, and Jones said he intends to play after sustaining a knee injury during the Rams game. Ingold and Jones were limited in practice on Friday.
McMorris (who practiced fully on Friday) and Wynn (who was a limited participant) are more likely to be activated after Sunday’s game, McDaniel said.
Cornerback Kendall Fuller, dealing with his second concussion in two months, is the only Dolphins player on the 53-man roster who was ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist) and tight end Julian Hill (shoulders) have no injury designations and will play Sunday.
MOSTERT’S REACTION
Speaking publicly for the first time this week, Raheem Mostert admitted he was “down” about not getting a rushing attempt on Monday and said that he and Mike McDaniel had a discussion about where he stands.
“I can’t get into detail but it was a good talk,” Mostert said. “I’m happy we were able to talk it out. I’m excited to play the Raiders.”
Mostert played only eight offensive snaps against the Rams and caught two passes for 34 yards.
“It was a little down for me,” he said of his emotional reaction to not getting a rushing attempt for the first time in his Dolphins career. “But it was also a learning tool. It told me a lot about myself and the mental fortitude you have to have to not get a carry as a running back, but at the same time, try to be effective in the passing game. I didn’t know what the game plan was in regards to me getting a carry or not.”
He said the Dolphins did not specifically tell him that he didn’t get a carry because he had costly fumbles against the Colts and Bills in recent weeks. But he said he suspects that was the reason.
“I’m my toughest critic,” he said. “Nobody is tougher than my wife. I’m tough on myself, and I feel that [the fumbles] definitely played a key role in that [not getting a rushing attempt Monday]. I can’t speak for the coaches in that regard. I can just speak for myself. Me personally, I would have done that same situation too because of the severity of the [fumbles]. I beat myself up about it. At the same time, you have to move on.”
Does he have a sense if he will get rushing attempts Sunday and beyond?
“I don’t have a sense of it,” he said. “I had a good week of practice. Time will tell.”
JONNU SMITH’S YAC
Jonnu Smith’s 33-yard catch-and-run against the Rams on Monday — which took the ball to the Rams’ 1 yard line — depicted his unique run-after-catch ability.
He led all NFL tight ends in average YAC (yards after catch) per reception during the past three seasons, including 7.3 last season. Conversely, Miami’s tight ends averaged 3.0 in YAC last season, which was worst in the league.
This season, Smith’s 194 YAC yards ranks 11th among NFL tight ends. His 5.9 average yards after catch per reception ranks 27th among tight ends.
He takes pride in that facet of his game.
“There is just a certain level of physicality that you have when you’re running that ball,” he said. “You got to become a running back with the ball in your hands.
“As a ball carrier whether you’re a receiver, tight end, quarterback, running back; to make big plays in this league it’s a mindset. So that’s just the element that I try to bring to this team and to help us be in a better situation.”
Is YAC acknowledged and celebrated in team meetings?
“Quite a bit,” Smith said. “That’s definitely a point of emphasis.... We know the ability that we’ve got, so there is a certain standard and level of expectation that is demanded from us that probably wouldn’t be demanded from other players.”
This story was originally published November 15, 2024 at 4:16 PM.
