Dolphins could face Buffalo with depleted secondary
The Miami Dolphins could face the Buffalo Bills with a stripped down secondary on Sunday.
Kader Kohou (neck) and Storm Duck (ankle), who sat out last Sunday’s 28-27 loss to the Arizona Cardinals because of their various injuries, continued to sit out practice, as did Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, Miami’s two starting safeties.
Holland played his first game with a broken left hand last week, but sustained a knee injury against the Cardinals that has him designated “week-to-week” by coach Mike McDaniel.
McDaniel wouldn’t rule out the 48-game starter for Sunday’s game against the Bills, but acknowledged that Holland, who has contributed 26 tackles and forced one fumble this season, has a long road to be medically cleared.
As for Poyer, he received a veteran rest day on Wednesday. He was spotted on the practice field wearing a baseball cap.
The Dolphins have periodically given the 33-year-old veteran rest days.
Cam Smith, the Dolphins’ 2023 second-round pick, stepped up in the absence of Kohou and Duck, becoming the third cornerback who enters the game versus three-receiver sets. However, that approach forced Jalen Ramsey to man the nickel cornerback spot most of the Cardinals game.
The only other alternative is to have special teams ace Siran Neal play nickel, or elevate Nik Needham from the practice squad and have him serve as the nickel, the position he started 27 games at during his six seasons.
As for safety, if Holland is forced to miss his second game, Marcus Maye would start his third game for Miami.
Maye has contributed 24 tackles this season in his 227 defensive snaps.
If Poyer, who has contributed 35 tackles in six games, is forced to sit out his return to Buffalo, an organization he played seven seasons for, then Elijah Campbell would likely be forced to start his first game of the season, and third of his NFL career.
Also sitting out Wednesday’s practice was Tyreek Hill (foot), Benito Jones (unknown), Emmanuel Ogbah (biceps), and Zach Sieler (eye), and Calais Campbell (veteran rest).
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 2:33 PM.
