The Miami Dolphins are heading into their Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions surprisingly healthy for a mid-season game. The Dolphins listed only three players on their final injury report on Friday, and all three were questionable at worst. Miami will likely have its entire roster available for the game.
The Lions, meanwhile, ruled out five players, all starters. for the game. They also had three players listed as questionable.
Kadyn Proctor returns
Rookie guard Kadyn Proctor cleared concussion protocol after missing
last week’s game against the New England Patriots. Proctor’s return to the lineup returns the Dolphins to their original starting lineup with left tackle Patrick Paul, left guard Proctor, center Aaron Brewer, right guard Jonah Savaiinaea, and right tackle Austin Jackson.
On Friday, The Phinsider’s Marek Brave wrote, “In [Proctor’s] absence, Miami’s offensive line struggled against a stout Patriots front — allowing 5 sacks and managing just 74 yards rushing on 20 attempts (just 3.7 yards per carry).“ Getting Proctor back into the lineup should assist the Dolphins as they face the ninth-ranked rush defense in the league on Sunday.
Malik Willis downplays groin injury
Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis, who was a full participant all week in practice, has been dealing with a groin injury for the last couple of week. He was asked this week if the injury led to a reluctance to run last week against the Patriots and he was pretty straight forward that they were not connected. “I think that’s just how the game played out. I’m not sure that had anything to do with it really,” he stated.
Willis continued to be listed on the injury report this week with the injury, but was not given a game-day status, indicating he will be starting.
Lions without several starters
The Lions have not been as lucky with their injuries. Linebacker Jack Campbell, who sustained a serious neck injury early in last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, was obviously going to be ruled out of the game. Several other players were also given the “out” designation.
Safety Kerby Joseph continues to work his way back from the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury. According to Pride of Detroit’s Erik Schlitt, the Lions plan on ramping up Joseph’s workload next week. He has a little over a week remaining on his practice window before the team has to move him to the 53-man roster or leave him on the PUP for the remainder of the year.
Center Cade Mays has an ankle injury and the Lions have been preparing for him to be out this weekend. Juice Scruggs will start in his place.
Cornerback D.J. Reed has a hip injury and has not been able to practice all week.
Edge rusher DJ Wonnum has a concussion and is working his way through the protocols.
Including Joseph, who will move into the starting lineup once he is activated off the PUP, all five players are starters for the Lions.
Dolphins running backs questionable behind Ollie Gordon II
The biggest injury concerns for the Dolphins heading into this weekend’s game may be at running back depth. While Ollie Gordon II, elevated to the starting role after De’Von Achane’s season-ending injury early this year, will see most snaps, both Jaylen Wright and Kaytron Allen are questionable for the game. While they will likely both be available, Miami’s depth may be fairly shallow if anything aggravates the quadriceps injuries nagging both players. Wright did not practice on Wednesday before being limited on both Thursday and Friday; Allen was limited for the first two days before being a full participant on Friday.
Miami also listed edge rusher Malik Herring as questionable with a neck injury. He was limited in practice all week.
