Dolphins hopeful WR DeVante Parker, OLB Kyle Van Noy will play vs. Rams despite injuries
If Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is going to have success in his first NFL start, he may have to do so with one of his top targets not quite at 100 percent.
Receiver DeVante Parker, who has dealt with a groin injury for the past two weeks, is expected to play for the Dolphins (3-3) in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams (5-2) at Hard Rock Stadium.
Parker, who has been limited in practices on Wednesday and Thursday, and has recovered from a hamstring injury that bothered him earlier this season, was able to ramp up to full participation in Friday’s full-speed practice to end the practice week.
“You never really know until we get to the game. We ran at game speed in practice [Friday], so we expect him to play,” Flores said of Parker, who leads the Dolphins with 29 catches for 364 yards and two touchdowns this season.
Parker’s availability to play and last during the Rams game could be instrumental for the Dolphins and Tagovailoa, who will need to rely on the team’s top receiver in Sunday’s contest.
On defense, the Dolphins also expect to have two starting captains ready to go.
Outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (foot) and safety Bobby McCain (ankle) were also able to practice fully on Friday after limited sessions this week, and expected to play against the Rams, Flores said.
Van Noy will return after a one-game absence, after missing the Jets game in Week 6, before Miami’s bye in Week 7, due to groin and foot injuries. He leads the team with two forced fumbles, while accounting for two sacks, three tackles for loss and 19 total tackles in his first season with the Dolphins.
The Dolphins will also have rookie defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, now a starter due to Davon Godchaux’s biceps injury, after the former Alabama standout suffered a shoulder injury against the Jets.
“My shoulder is great. I’ve been practicing this whole week. I feel like I’m going to be going this Sunday,” said Davis, a second-round pick by Miami in the 2020 NFL draft.
Tight end Adam Shaheen, who signed a two-year extension with the Dolphins this week and has two touchdown catches in the last two games, will be questionable to play due to a shoulder injury.
Dolphins defensive back Jamal Perry will be out due to a foot injury. Perry missed Wednesday’s practice, finished the week on Thursday and Friday as a limited participant.
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