Dolphins’ McDaniel updates injuries, other issues in Monday media briefing
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard will receive treatment on his injured groin this week, and his availablity for Sunday’s game against Philadelphia depends on how quickly he heals.
Howard sustained the injury during Sunday’s game against Carolina and said afterward that he feels “great.” He battled groin issues last season.
“Day to day,” coach Mike McDaniel said of Howard’s status. “We will see how X calms down” after treatment.
McDaniel said rookie running back Chris Brooks - who was carted off late in the Carolina game with an ankle injury - is “week to week.” He added that there’s “swelling that must go down” with Brooks before the length of his absence is known.
McDaniel said running back Jeff Wilson Jr. “was prepared enough to play” against Carolina. But the team opted to activate guard Rob Jones instead.
“Going in with the game plan with regard to the entire team, it kind of necessitated us to have that spot directed somewhere else,” McDaniel said. “[Wilson] was prepared. We have to be patient.”
Brooks’ injury leaves Miami with two healthy running backs on the 53-man roster: Raheem Mostert and Salvon Ahmed. So Wilson likely will be needed this week. Wilson remains on IR, having missed the first six games with finger and rib injuries.
As for center Connor Williams, he has a decent chance to return Sunday after missing the Carolina game with a groin injury.
“We try to protect players from themselves,” McDaniel said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t practice Wednesday” so that he could rest another day. But he had a good weekend” health wise and is antsy to play, McDaniel said.
McDaniel addressed other issues:
▪ On Tyreek Hill needing several IVs on Sunday and in the past, McDaniel isn’t concerned and said Hill takes the matter seriously.
“He tries to be proactive,” McDaniel said. “He’s a high octane athlete that we’ve been proactive with ID measures. It’s game related; when you go spurts when he’s doing explosive things, it seems to come up.”
▪ On Sunday night’s 8:20 p.m. Dolphins-Eagles matchup in Philadelphia on NBC: “The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the best teams in the National Football League. Our guys will be excited for that. Like I spoke to the team today, the game will garner more attention from outside the building.”
▪ McDaniel defended the cornerbacks’ play against Carolina: “There was a lot of pressure we got on the quarterback that was the result of coverage. Our team defense is coming together like we hoped.”
▪ On Liam Eichenberg’s play at center: “I expected some comfort level in his [second career start at center] and him being able to execute things he might not have in his first rep [against Buffalo]. We had guys mid-play celebrating his decisive call. He blocked people well” and made line calls that helped others block well.
This story was originally published October 16, 2023 at 3:19 PM.
