Health of these Dolphins players is critical

I saw a large Eagles advertisement featuring Jalen Hurts last Sunday afternoon.

I didn't expect to be in Philadelphia, but that's where the nearest eye hospital was, and I was in need of emergency surgery.

Perhaps I should have expected that at some point the retina in my left eye would detach. After all, only four months ago, the retina in my right eye detached.

And when it comes to injury, history is often the best predictor of the future.

Which brings us to the Dolphins.

And for those keeping score at home, I may be unable to fly for 6-8 weeks and I may be unable to drive for at least 3-4 or more weeks. But my left eye (unlike my right, unfortunately) should fully or nearly fully recover.

And so I begin the 2022 Dolphins season on PUP (like Byron Jones).

At the moment I feel pain and nausea and it is difficult to read. But it's football season. And so I'll strap up my laptop.

Which, again, brings us to the Dolphins.

Miami should be in the playoff "party" conversation, with "party" being the phrase coach Mike McDaniel used earlier this week.

Yes, they are talented enough to win 9, 10, perhaps even 11 games in 2022.

This is a very talented roster. But it's no longer one of the very youngest in the NFL. No, Miami has transitioned from reload to launch mode. And so there are more veterans.

And with that, comes the increased possibility of more and more serious injuries.

Nobody wants to think about what the Dolphins' offensive line might look like without Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead. But it must be noted that over the last six seasons in New Orleans, Armstead averaged 11 games played.

How would the loss of Armstead, 31 years old, for six games this season impact Miami's playoff odds?

How would Greg Little or anyone else fare in that position?

Miami is holding out hope it does not happen. But they must plan for it to.

Because, again, history is the best predictor.

This is not the primary reason Miami moved on from DeVante Parker, shipping him to New England, of all places. But Parker's long history of lingering soft-tissue injuries were always a concern.

Miami could be in big trouble if Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, Xavien Howard or Jaealan Phillips were to miss significant time this season. All those players, as we know, have had some injuries in their past.

Miami could be in trouble if Byron Jones does not return after four games. And they could be in some trouble if veterans like Melvin Ingram, Trey Flowers  and/or Raheem Mostert don't hold up. All of those veterans have also had injuries in their past.

Players who have been injured, unfortunately, usually do get injured again. It's usually just a matter of how long do they last, how long are they out, and is the backup play anything better than catastrophe?

This Dolphins' roster has decent depth. It has better-than-decent overall talent.

Health is critical for most teams. It figures to be really significant for this Dolphins team.

As for me, I'll miss a few road trips. I'll miss time spent in the Dolphins' locker room and at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.

I don't think I have any retinas left to tear. Thanks to all those who sent well wishes on Twitter recently. And let's hope the Dolphins have relatively good health in 2022.

Please sign up for the Palm Beach Post's digital subscription (at the moment I believe it's $9.99 for one year). Please let me know you supported me, and us, on Twitter @schadjoe.

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All the best - Joe.

Joe Schad is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Health of these Dolphins players is critical