Kelly: Jevon Holland must decide if continuing to play while hurt is too risky | Opinion

Jevon Holland had his helmet clutched in his right hand, and a hand brace and teal glove adorned on his left.

The Miami Dolphins’ starting safety was walking off the field, heading inside the indoor practice facility Monday to begin a rehab assignment because of the broken left hand he sustained in Miami’s 15-10 win against the New England Patriots, but before he left the field head coach Mike McDaniel sought out the latest injured defensive starter to exchange a few words.

It seemed like an encouraging conversation, one where McDaniel did most of the talking.

Moments later general manager Chris Grier spoke to Holland for an entire practice period — 10 minutes — while he pedaled on a stationary bike as his teammates did their individual drills.

Again, Grier did most of the talking.

It seems as if the Dolphins’ top executives wanted to make sure Holland iss fine, both mentally and physically, and have a valid reason to do so.

Last year one of the biggest soap operas about the 2023 Dolphins was Holland’s insistence that his knee injuries (that’s plural on purpose because he hurt both knees in the same Black Friday game he turned a punt for a touchdown) were not healed enough for him to play significant snaps late last season.

There were Dolphins coaches who felt Holland could have, and should have played late last season. But the veteran safety was cautious about his return.

And here we are, a year later, debating whether it’s the right approach to have Holland playing with a broken left hand, sporting a brace or a club on it for game days.

The injury might not just impact his performance, and the team’s defense. But it could hinder his future earnings considering Holland’s an impending free agent.

If I’m a rival quarterback — say Joe Flacco or Anthony Richardson, the two Indianapolis quarterbacks Miami must get prepared for this week — and I see a safety with a cast on his hand I’m attacking that player.

A safety with a bad hand likely becomes a target because that brace or club might lead to tackling issues.

That brace or a club likely reduces the chances of Holland bringing down an interception on a pass thrown in his direction.

That means Holland’s latest injury could make him a marked man if the Dolphins put him on the field, which is clearly being discussed.

The Dolphins must decide if they are willing to put Holland, who has contributed 22 tackles, two pass breakups and forced one fumble this season, in that predicament? And Holland must decide if the juice is worth the squeeze?

Holland’s already seeking a contract that makes him one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL. One way or another he’s going to do what’s in his best interest, and that might mean making a business decision.

Problem is, no position group has been hit by injuries harder than the Dolphins safeties because Miami’s two starters are the ones slowed by injuries since Jordan Poyer is recovering from a bruised shine he injured against the Tennessee Titans.

But it’s Holland whose return is critical.

The Dolphins made a conscious decision to let the 2021 second-round pick play out the final year of his rookie deal for whatever reason.

Holland hasn’t complained about it, but that doesn’t mean his circle hasn’t.

The goal was to put up the type of season that warranted a top safety contract, whether it came from the Dolphins or another team, following in the footsteps of Christian Wilkins and Robert Hunt. Both of those trench players bet on themselves in the final year of their rookie deals and were handsomely rewarded with contracts that were worth more than $100 million.

And this is why players push, lobby, advocate, strong-arm franchises for new contracts when they are entering the final year of their rookie deal.

Holland and Liam Eichenberg were the only veteran Dolphins players eligible for an extension who didn’t get one before the start of the 2024 regular season, and Holland has been a good soldier about it.

He played, and didn’t complain because he was betting on himself.

Now we will learn if he will double down on that bet by continuing to play with a broken hand.