Dolphins place LT Long on injured reserve
Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long landed on injured reserve Tuesday due to a left triceps injury, leaving the team to chase its slim postseason hopes without one of its offensive line mainstays.
Long, who will be a free agent this offseason, was hurt Sunday while blocking New England linebacker Rob Ninkovich late in the first quarter and left the game.
Miami offensive coordinator Mike Sherman spoke Monday as though rookie Jonathan Martin would inherit Long's left tackle spot and veteran reserve Nate Garner would play right tackle, as was the case after Long's departure. Martin has started every game this season at right tackle.
"We have to move (Martin) from one side to another, so we're not quite as strong at both positions," Sherman said. "But hopefully this week we'll get them both elevated so everybody feels comfortable with what we're doing."
Long, a three-time Pro Bowler, previously missed only two games to injury in his career, both in 2011. He's making $11.2 million this season in the final year of a five-year, $57 million contract he signed after being the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2008.
The Dolphins filled Long's roster spot by signing offensive tackle Patrick Brown, who spent three weeks with Miami in 2010. Brown was active for all 16 games with the Minnesota Vikings last year. He was originally signed by the Carolina Panthers in 2009 as an undrafted free agent out of Central Florida.
Miami made two other roster moves Tuesday, signing safety Tyrone Culver and waiving defensive back Anderson Russell. Culver was cut by the Dolphins just before the regular season began. Russell appeared in a three games for Miami as a reserve this season.
