News on key injuries affecting Dolphins, Eagles. And the human dynamic ongoing at safety

While injuries at cornerback could leave both the Dolphins and Eagles at a deficit on Sunday, injuries on both teams’ lines and elsewhere also could impact Sunday night’s matchup in Philadelphia (8:20 p.m., NBC).

Dolphins center Connor Williams, who has missed two of the past three games with a groin injury, did not practice Wednesday because of the groin issue, and his status remains a question for this week’s game. In his absence, Liam Eichenberg did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure against Carolina.

Left tackle Kendall Lamm missed practice, but it was for a personal issue, not an injury.

Starting left tackle Terron Armstead, sidelined by a knee injury the past two games, is required by NFL rules to miss two more games. Armstead “has a glow in his eye” and has “high expectations for a return,” coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday.

As for the situation at running back, McDaniel said Chris Brooks (ankle) will miss multiple weeks but is not out for the season. He said Jeff Wilson Jr. did not suffer a setback in his return from rib and finger injuries and remains ready to play.

Wilson practiced fully Wednesday and appears very likely to be activated this week, considering Raheem Mostert and Salvon Ahmed are the team’s only healthy running backs on the 53-man roster.

Mostert, incidentally, was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday; McDaniel announced it at the start of a team meeting. “I thought it would be Tua [Tagovailoa] getting the award,” Mostert said.

Fullback Alec Ingold missed practice with a foot injury.

Meanwhile, Eagles standout rookie defensive tackle Jalen Carter is a question mark for Sunday because of an ankle injury that sidelined him against the Jets on Sunday. Carter has 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in five games.

He was limited at practice, as was Eagles 2022 All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay, who missed the Jets game with an ankle injury. Also limited Wednesday: tight end Dallas Goedert, who has a groin injury. (The Eagles had only a walkthrough Wednesday, but their injury report reflected what would have been each player’s status if a more strenuous practice had been held.)

Both teams’ defensive backfields could be short-handed. One of the Dolphins’ top corners (Jalen Ramsey) is out Sunday (though he began practicing Wednesday) and the other, Xavien Howard, is in serious question because of a groin injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday.

Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou (neck) was limited at practice, as was Nik Needham (Achilles).

And Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson, a 2022 first team All-Pro, is dealing with an ankle injury. NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger said he spoke with Johnson this week and told the “Philadelphia Eagles Podcast” that he expects Johnson to play Sunday, but he missed practice Wednesday.

Eagles standout receiver DeVonta Smith also missed practice with a hamstring injury.

McDaniel said whether any high-impact player (such as Slay or Carter) plays doesn’t dramatically impact time spent on the game plan.

“That is a team that dealt with injuries before,” McDaniel said. “We don’t lose sleep on any individual because that does a disservice to the whole.”

And in one other injury note, the Dolphins cut edge player Chase Winovich with an injury settlement and signed linebacker Quinton Bell to replace him on the practice squad. Bell, a 2019 seventh round pick of the Raiders out of Prairie View A&M, has appeared in nine NFL games.

Winovich played five special teams snaps and 47 defensive snaps in three games for the Dolphins this season.

HUMAN SIDE AT SAFETY

When DeShon Elliott joined the Dolphins as a free agent from the Detroit Lions this offseason, he was reunited with his buddy and former college teammate, Brandon Jones. The thinking had been that Elliott and Jones would compete for safety snaps but ultimately might both have a role.

As it has turned out, Jones has received no meaningful playing time during games when Elliott has been available.

Elliott feels compassion for Jones, who is fully healthy after last October’s ACL injury.

“I texted Brandon last [Wednesday night and said] ‘I love you brother,’” Elliott said. “It’s a business. I told him we are going to need him at some point in the season and I feel like once he’s able to get our base things down pat, they will find a way to get him on the field.

“He’s a great player, fast, physical. He tries to do all the right things. It’s not over. We have a chance to get all three of us on the field. Why not get your best players out there?”

Elliott was a groomsman at Jones’ wedding.

Pro Football Focus ranks Jevon Holland second and Ellliott eighth among all NFL safeties this season. And Jones’ most special skill, blitzing, has become less important because coordinator Vic Fangio blitzes much less than predecessor Josh Boyer.

What about Elliott’s skill set is maximized in this defense? “My communication, me making sure everyone around me is calm and getting lined up, trying to be the best version of myself, whether it’s my aggressiveness, my physicality, my leadership or making plays.”

He called Holland “our best player on defense. [He] makes you feel calm. You can go out there and play and do your thing without worrying about whether the other man is going to be on top of his stuff.”

Jones started in 20 of his 22 appearances in 2021 and 2022 before last October’s knee injury. He has played only 80 defensive snaps this season, with most of those coming in the game that Elliott missed (against Buffalo).

▪ Per Overthecap’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Dolphins shaved $1.3 million off kicker Jason Sanders’ 2023 cap number - from $3.7 million to $2.4 million - by restructuring his contract. That gives the Dolphins a bit more breathing room over the cap ($3.5 million) if they decide to sign a player to a contract above the minimum or make a trade before the Oct. 31 NFL deadline.

▪ In the wake of Fangio saying that Christian Wilkins’ decision to sit out August practices and preseason games (in a contract dispute) made him “rusty” early in the season, Wilkins said only: “That’s his opinion.”