Injuries continue to plague Dolphins, but McDaniel remains cautiously optimistic
MIAMI GARDENS — Mike McDaniel just can’t seem to shake the injury bug.
Miami’s first year head coach continued to see key players go down during his team’s 40-17 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday. It’s been one of the unfortunate constants of his short tenure.
“It’s a real crapshoot right now when it comes to injuries,” McDaniel told reporters during a press conference Monday.
Among the key injuries Sunday were offensive tackle Terron Armstead, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, tight end Durham Smythe and, of course, quarterback Teddy Bridgewater who has entered the concussion protocol.
Hill, who was questionable going into the game with a quad injury, hurt his foot during the fourth quarter and was later seen wearing a boot in the locker room.
McDaniel feels cautiously optimistic about his outlook.
“He looked pretty good today, but we’ll take that day-by-day,” McDaniel said. “If and when he plays next, he won’t play in a boot, I know that much. … Days after games, especially with leg and ankle stuff, typically things are pretty swollen and he felt alright. With him, he’s a fast healer but you just don’t know with those types of things.”
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Another one of the Dolphins’ prominent offseason additions, Armstead, was pulled from the game midway through the first quarter after reaggravating a toe injury that he’s been battling throughout the year. Armstead, who has yet to miss a start despite the toe issue, stayed in New York on Sunday to meet with a specialist to try and get some sort of handle on the situation.
While it’s still unclear what his status is leading up to Sunday’s meeting against the Vikings, Armstead has proven himself to have the ability to fight through different ailments.
“He’s back in South Florida, I think the visit went well,” McDaniel said. “The one thing I’ve learned with Terron is I can trust him as much as I’ve ever trusted any player. He will do whatever it takes to play Sunday and the one thing that myself, the coaching staff and his teammates know is if he’s not able to play it’s because he’s physically unable to.
“Excited that he’s taken a step to get that thing healthy.”
Smythe, who suffered a hamstring injury, is considered day-to-day.
The defensive side of the ball was also plagued with injuries for Miami as the Dolphins were without both of their starting cornerbacks in Xavien Howard and Byron Jones. Howard was a game-time decision having injured his groin, but he was unable to suit up for the first time this season. He was absent from all but one practice last week.
“We were happy with where he was at today,” McDaniel said of Howard. “It pained him not to be on the field with his teammates, much like it did the other three captains that were playing. So, I know for a fact that he, like the other captains that are on the sidelines, will do everything possible to be ready for Sunday.”
Jones has been on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) as he recovers from offseason Achilles surgery. McDaniel does not expect him to be able to practice this week.
Austin Jackson returns to practice this week
One bit of good news on the injury front is that offensive tackle Austin Jackson, who’s been on injured reserve since suffering an ankle injury in Week 1, will be returning to practice this week in a limited capacity. It would be a huge boost for Miami’s offensive front that might be without Armstead.
“He’s done a great job getting himself back so that we could even consider that this week,” McDaniel said.
Despite all the adversity he has faced when it comes to his team’s health, McDaniel chooses to try and look at the positives and what the team has shown him in those difficult moments.
“An unintended consequence that is a positive is that I think our team is getting used to not blinking when guys go down,” he said. “That is a part of our sport that you don't want people to lose a competitive advantage if you’re like ‘We got no chance because this (player) is hurt.’ “That is not the mindset of this football team.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins injuries mounting with Minnesota Vikings coming to town
