Dolphin safety Jevon Holland is unlikely to play on Sunday against Indianapolis, and new late-week injuries suffered by right tackle Austin Jackson and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. have left their status in question for the Colts game.
Jackson sustained a back injury late this week and Beckham sustained a hamstring injury; both were listed as questionable for Sunday. Beckham did not practice on Friday because of the hamstring injury and an undisclosed personal reason. Jackson was limited in practice.
Also listed as questionable for Sunday: outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah (biceps), linebacker David Long Jr. (knee), cornerback Cam Smith (hamstring), quarterback Skylar Thompson (ribs) and long snapper Blake Ferguson, who missed practice Friday because of an undisclosed personal reason.
Holland was listed as doubtful.
Two players who had been in question are good to go on Sunday: running back DeVon Achane (who cleared concussion protocol) and safety Jordan Poyer, who is set to return after missing one game with a shin injury, sustained on a play against Tennessee in which edge rusher Jaelan Phillips suffered a season-ending partial ACL tear.
Achane exited concussion protocol on Friday, 12 days after sustaining a concussion in the first quarter of the Dolphins’ most recent game, the Oct. 6 win at New England. He said Friday that he feels “great” and hasn’t had symptoms since the day after the concussion happened.
As for Holland, he practiced on a limited basis this week after breaking a bone in his left hand against the Patriots. But he’s unlikely to play Sunday.
Coach Mike McDaniel was non-committal about whether Ogbah will play Sunday.
Ogbah, who sustained his biceps injury while trying to sack Patriots quarterback Jacoby Brissett, answered “day to day” when asked this week if he expects to play Sunday.
If Ogbah cannot play, Tyus Bowser, Chop Robinson, Quinton Bell and Mo Kamara would be the team’s edge rushers. Bowser joined the team two weeks ago and the rookie Kamara hasn’t yet appeared in a regular-season game.
If Jackson cannot play, Kendall Lamm likely would start at right tackle.
Meanwhile, the Colts will be without Pro Bowl running back Jonathan Taylor, who did not practice this week because of an ankle injury.
Anthony Richardson, back from an oblique injury, is expected to start at quarterback for Indianapolis.
SMYTHE ADJUSTS
After playing well over half the team’s offensive snaps the past three seasons, tight end Durham Smythe has assumed a less prominent role in his seventh season with the Dolphins.
Hill has played only 36 percent of the team’s offensive snaps, his lowest total during his Dolphins tenure. He played 62, 57 and 76 percent of the offensive snaps the past three seasons, after playing 45 percent each of his first two seasons while sharing tight end duties with Mike Gesicki.
Julian Hill has essentially replaced Smythe as the Dolphins’ tight end on many running plays. Hill has played 165 offensive snaps, compared with 131 for Jonnu Smith and 126 for Smythe.
Is the reduced playing time dispiriting?
“I don’t think so,” Smythe, 29, said this week. “If I was a little bit younger, I would probably say yes if there was a drastic difference. Having the perspective I do now, it’s realizing you’ve got to take the opportunities you’re given and make the most of those.
“Things change pretty quickly in this league. Keep your head down and try to get better. A lot of times, if you’re not getting the reps that you have been, I’ve seen a lot of guys slip and not continue on an upward level. It’s about doing that, staying true to a routine and pieces fall where they may.”
Smythe had an uncharacteristic drop early in the season; PFF ranks him 70 of 72 tight ends, compared to 36th for Smith and 51st for Hill.
Has Smythe played up to his standards this year?
“There’s always room for improvement,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to find. You don’t want any of those [drops] ever, but you try to put a track record out there that says that’s an outlier and not a norm.”
Smythe has two receptions, on seven targets, for 11 yards. Last season, he caught 35 of 43 targets for 366 yards.
PFF ranks Smythe as a well-above average run blocker – 23rd among 75 tight ends this season. But Hill is ranked seventh as a run blocker.
“Julian is a very good player,” Smythe said. “He’s one of the more physical players I’ve ever played with. I’m proud of him. I know Jonnu is a good player. You always want to play as much as you possibly can, but there are a lot of very good players in our room and only so many tight ends can get on the field at the same time.”
Tanner Conner, the Dolphins’ No. 4 tight end, has played 16 offensive snaps.
▪ Left tackle Terron Armstead explained Friday why it’s enjoyable to block for Raheem Mostert.
“He’s physical; he’s violent,” Armstead said. “Defenders know they’ve got to bring it when they come in and try to tackle [number] 31. You look at him and he’s not the biggest guy but he’s crazy strong and his mentality that he runs with. And he’s always a home run threat too, so they don’t they can’t be late and you can’t mess around when you see 31 coming through that hole.”
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