Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses status of five players, other issues. Draft update
The status of Dolphins center Aaron Brewer, who has played in 58 consecutive games, is in question for Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay because of a neck injury.
“Depending on the next 48 hours, how he responds to that [Friday] practice will dictate [his availability],” coach Mike McDaniel said before Friday’s on-field work. “He has the motivation to [play].”
If he cannot play, Andrew Meyer or Daniel Brunskill could get the start against visiting Tampa Bay (1 p.m., WSVN Fox 7). McDaniel said Meyer likely will be activated off injured reserve by 4 p.m. Saturday and he “affords us the option if Brew has to come out or has a step back” in Friday’s practice.
McDaniel did not go as far as to name Meyer the No. 2 center. Brunskill holds that role right now. Meyer has been out since sustaining a triceps injury in August.
As for other injuries, McDaniel has said that safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) is out Sunday.
Receiver Dee Eskridge (toe) is likely out Sunday, McDaniel said.
Tight end Darren Waller (groin) “should be good to go,” McDaniel said.
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson has been dealing with a chest injury, and McDaniel “we’ll see how T-Dod’s body responds” during Friday’s practice.
Meanwhile, cornerback Isaiah Johnson sustained a torn ACL in Tuesday’s practice and faces a long rehabilitation. That was a “gut punch to the team,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel addressed other issues on Friday:
▪ During a holiday week, how difficult is it to motivate players on a team that has been eliminated from playoff contention?
“There is so much at stake for every coach and player,” McDaniel said. “You want to leave the season with your best impressions. People make the mistake thinking there’s nothing to play for. With every single opportunity, if you don’t treat it with the regard it deserves, you are going to short change your opportunities moving forward.
“That was one of impetuses for having coach [Jon] Embree talk about the whys. We’ve been direct having guys understanding it’s a regular season NFL game, you’ll be held accountable for how you play - your teammates, the film, all 31 other teams and the team you’re on.”
▪ McDaniel, on what he likes about safety Dante Trader Jr.: “He’s a fast, convicted player. He plays a lot faster than whatever his 40 is timed at. Those instincts and conviction allow him to move around on the field.”
▪ Have McDaniel and interim general manager Champ Kelly talked about what young players they would like to evaluate over the next two weeks, even while trying to win?
“We are utilizing our professional relationships to enact those opportunities,” McDaniel said. “You are cross checking: ‘I think this guy has done a good job and improved a ton. Do you see it the same way? Is he ready for this opportunity relative to who he’s in competition with?’
“Those conversations and putting the guys on the field has been a very good process we’ve depended on where we have some guys who are ready to play and in conversations together we push forward the application of that.”
Draft update
Washington’s loss to Dallas on Thanksgiving eliminated the Dolphins’ chances of moving as high as seventh in draft order, while Kansas City’s loss to Denver left Miami at least momentarily slotted 11th.
The Dolphins (6-9) enter Sunday standing 11th in draft order but will jump 6-10 Kansas City for 10th if Miami loses to Tampa Bay on Sunday.
The Dolphins can move up to as high as eighth over the final two games. They also could fall to as low as 15th or 16th (depending on tiebreakers) if they win out and teams below them lose out.
The team with the weaker schedule gets the higher pick. That helps 6-9 Miami, because Dolphins’ opponents have the second-worst winning percentage (.488) of the 12 teams with five, six, seven or eight wins. Only Dallas’ opponents have a lower winning percentage than Miami’s among those teams.
Miami could jump the 5-10 Saints and 5-10 Cincinnati for 8th or 9th if the Dolphins lose out and the Saints win once (at Tennessee, at Atlanta) and the Bengals win once (home against Arizona and Cleveland).
This story was originally published December 26, 2025 at 11:58 AM.
