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Dolphins optimistic about Terron Armstead’s injury recovery; RB De’Von Achane injured vs. Texans

david furones, south florida sun-sentinel
·6 min read

HOUSTON — Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he’s optimistic about left tackle Terron Armstead’s injury status after he left Thursday’s practice with a lower right leg injury.

“He’s doing well,” McDaniel said after Saturday’s 28-3 preseason win against the Houston Texans. “We avoided anything too substantial. In terms of a timeline, I’m not really worried about it. I’m just worried about him getting right as fast as possible, which I know he’ll do.”

The CBS4 broadcast of the exhibition reported the team believes Armstead can make his target to return by the regular-season opener on Sept. 10 at the Los Angeles Chargers.

Armstead was seen with a walking boot on his right foot on the sideline during the game at NRG Stadium. He spent time sitting down and elevating the foot while also seen standing at times.

The four-time Pro Bowl tackle was rolled up on during the Dolphins’ second joint practice against the Texans on Thursday. He was evaluated on the sideline of drills before being carted inside Houston’s team facilities.

Afterwards, Armstead was seen using crutches to get back onto a cart to leave the facility. He also posted a video of himself walking without the crutches while tweeting later that evening he was targeting a Week 1 return.

Armstead played through four different injuries — toe, knee, pectoral and hip — in 2022. He had an offseason procedure done on his knee entering the 2023 season.

Other injuries

McDaniel said rookie running back De’Von Achane left Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury and that the team will find out more about his status Sunday.

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Achane was seen standing on the sideline with a trainer while quarterback Skylar Thompson was in the injury tent. He was then carted into the locker room.

Dolphins guard Robert Jones exited with what McDaniel called a lower-extremity injury. Jones left the game in the second quarter and was escorted by a trainer into the locker room after briefly being in the blue medical tent. He was walking very slowly.

Thompson missed a few plays after he was driven to the ground by a Texans defender. Mike White entered for him, but Thompson finished out the game.

Starters play

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a number of other starters saw early action in Saturday’s preseason game.

Tagovailoa was off a list of players “not expected to play,” released 90 minutes before kickoff by the team. Among top Dolphins players that were listed as inactive for Miami’s second exhibition game: Armstead, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

That meant starters who didn’t play in last week’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons that started Saturday in Houston included: Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, running back Raheem Mostert, center Connor Williams, right guard Robert Hunt, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, linebackers Jerome Baker, David Long Jr., Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb and cornerback Xavien Howard.

McDaniel was noncommittal throughout the week on whether he would play Tagovailoa and the rest of his projected starters, citing that he needed to see them in Wednesday and Thursday’s joint practices in Houston first.

“A lot of guys needed tape,” McDaniel said. “They needed game to do good or bad — doesn’t matter — but you’ve been practicing for so long. They were ready for that.”

Wilkins, in addition to being an established fifth-year veteran on the roster, is also in the midst of a contract dispute with the Dolphins. He’s looking to secure a long-term deal as he’s set to play in 2023 on the final year of his rookie contract after his fifth-year option was picked up in 2022. For the past two weeks, Wilkins has not participated in team portions of practice.

Waddle is nursing a midsection ailment from the previous week of practice against the Falcons before the first exhibition. He did not practice during this past week. Ramsey will miss at least the start of the regular season after undergoing surgery on the meniscus in his left knee.

Other Dolphins listed as inactives: running backs Jeff Wilson Jr. and Myles Gaskin, safety Brandon Jones, fullback Alec Ingold, cornerbacks Cam Smith, Keion Crossen, Justin Bethel and Ethan Bonner, offensive linemen Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton and wide receiver Braylon Sanders.

Cotton was a surprise scratch after he was not seen injured during the week, and he and Eichenberg are two of the players competing for the Dolphins’ starting left guard spot.

“He had something minor,” McDaniel said of Cotton. “He wanted to go, but I didn’t think it was fair to him to get through something and the potential of putting tape out there that’s not a reflection of how he’s been playing. So we held him out, but he wanted to get on the field in the worst way and we’ll be excited for that.”

Isaiah Wynn saw extensive action at left guard against the Texans. Eichenberg was limited during the past week since the preseason opener against the Falcons.

McDaniel, last preseason in his first year working with Tagovailoa, did not play the starting quarterback in the preseason opener but then got him starts in the second and third exhibitions before the regular season began.

Phillips primed for breakout

Phillips stood out all week in joint practices with the Texans with at least three sacks between the two sessions and several more pressures on Houston quarterbacks.

“I just think my confidence as a pass-rusher has increased a lot,” Phillips said Thursday. “This week, I was going against George Fant. I faced George Fant my rookie year when he played for the Jets, and I had no answers for him at all. That boy was doing me all game.

“This week, I felt a lot more competitive against him. So little things like that. I’m big on the process and not being result-oriented. I’ve been putting in the work for the last three years and for it to show a little bit, it means a lot to me. I just continue to try to get better every day and do my thing.”

Phillips was among league leaders in pass-rush win rate in 2022, but it only resulted in seven sacks, which didn’t match the 8 1/2 he had as a rookie in 2021.

He’s utilizing his tenacity, speed and explosiveness, and hopes it will only be highlighted in new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme.

“His defense gives us a lot of freedom and a lot of room for us to use our athleticism and things like that to be disruptive,” Phillips said. “I think that’s one thing I’m really good at, is being disruptive and having some production. I hope I’m a good fit for his defense. I hope he thinks that.”

One thing from Fangio’s defense is that he relies less on the blitz than previous defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. This could mean more opportunities where the traditional pass rushers are depended on to reach the quarterback while more defenders in pass coverage could lead to more time to get there.