Mike McDaniel optimistic on injured Dolphins including Austin Jackson, Tyreek Hill
MIAMI GARDENS — With the schedule about to take a decidedly difficult turn, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel offered an optimistic outline Monday of the team’s tenuous injury situation.
That includes the five starters held out of Sunday’s 30-0 rout of the New York Jets, plus right tackle Austin Jackson, subject of concerns that his oblique injury might have been more serious than it is.
In general, McDaniel left the door open that his offensive line and secondary could be closer to being intact when the Dolphins (10-4, currently second in the AFC) play the visiting Dallas Cowboys (10-4, fifth in the NFC) at 4:25 p.m. Sunday.
Running through the list of injured players:
Jackson: He was injured in the second quarter and limited to just 29 snaps. Given how banged up the line is even with Jackson at tackle, the fear was rooted in how an oblique injury basically cost Jaelan Phillips a month’s worth of action earlier this season.
“I would say that the time frame isn’t what Jaelan Phillips’ was,” McDaniel said. “So it’s not as severe. However, we’re going to have to see how he progresses during the week.”
Receiver Tyreek Hill and cornerback Xavien Howard: Both were inactive Sunday, Hill because of an ankle injury and Howard with a hip problem. But both warmed up before the game.
“If you’re working a player out before the game, inherently they’re close,” McDaniel said, contradicting a report on NBC Sunday night that Hill “wasn’t even close” to playing.
“If it wasn’t close, they wouldn’t be working,” McDaniel said.
Safety Jevon Holland: He also was inactive, with injuries to both knees, but McDaniel praised Holland’s contributions anyway as an extra set of eyes on the Jets game.
“His body will tell him and us when he’s ready to go, but I can promise you that he’s been as diligent as anyone,” McDaniel said.
Holland’s presence would be critical against the Cowboys, who have the league’s sixth-ranked passing attack (251.6 yards per game to Miami’s league-leading 274.4). Dallas also is second in the NFL with 28 touchdown passes, two more than Miami.
Safety DeShon Elliott: He's progressing through concussion protocol.
“We’re anticipating those final stages,” McDaniel said, adding he’s “very optimistic.”
Guard Rob Hunt: Except for seeing some action in the victory in Washington, he has been out since the Oct. 29 game vs. New England because of a hamstring injury.
“I'm not going to rule that out,” McDaniel said of Hunt’s possible availability. “I'm just optimistic that he’s going to turn the corner and he’s going to feel good.”
Running back Chris Brooks: The Dolphins plan to activate the undrafted rookie who has impressed in limited duty (15 attempts, 94 yards). Brooks was averaging 6.3 yards per carry before injuring a knee vs. Carolina on Oct. 15. Tuesday is the deadline for the Dolphins to activate him.
“It’s an easy decision,” McDaniel said.
Cornerback Cam Smith and edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah: Both left the Jets game with hamstring injuries in the second half. McDaniel said they’re day to day.
Raheem Mostert 'bound' for Hall of Fame?
Running back Raheem Mostert scored twice against the Jets to set team records for rushing touchdowns in a season (18) and total TDs (20).
Fullback Alec Ingold was ready.
“One hundred percent,” Ingold said.
Mostert punctuated his first score with an emphatic spike, so as teammates piled on to congratulate him, Ingold had other ideas.
“I knew the emotions would be high for him,” Ingold said. “Obviously, setting history is a big deal. So I probably ran over like four people trying to get that ball. I was on a full sprint, so I didn’t get to celebrate with the guys. But I wanted to make sure that he had that one.”
Mostert apparently didn’t have the ball long. He told teammates Monday that the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, requested he send it up so it can be on display.
“We’ve got to do a field trip,” Ingold said.
More: Record-breaker Raheem Mostert ‘forgives' Dolphins, who won't soon forget him | Habib
McDaniel brought Mostert with him when he came to Miami from San Francisco, so he couldn’t resist a dig at reporters Monday.
“Every single one of you guys were trying to get us to trade for a running back. Right?” McDaniel said.
Another milestone awaits. Mostert is just 34 yards shy of the first 1,000-yard season of his career.
Andrew Van Ginkel: What’s a little blood?
In a tale that might not cause a ripple in the NHL because of the mentality of hockey players, Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel suffered a broken nose early in the Jets game but didn’t miss a beat, playing 51 snaps — 88 percent of the defensive plays.
Van Ginkel took it in stride to such an extent that McDaniel was unaware of what was happening.
“Information flows on a need-to-know basis during the game,” McDaniel said. “And generally, you would find out as a head coach that someone had a broken nose. But with Andrew Van Ginkel — I think it speaks to the prerequisite toughness and kind of guy he is because he was just like, ‘All right, gauze it up and let’s go.’ I never knew until I saw his face. And have you seen him? It’s like, ‘What happened to him?’ ”
More: Dolphins prove major point in stomping of Jets, winning without Tyreek Hill | Schad
Actually, when Van Ginkel met with reporters, he looked better than McDaniel made it out to be.
“I’m just a football player, you know?” Van Ginkel said. “It’s the nature of the beast. It’s what we do. It’s why it makes us who we are.”
Van Ginkel said he was injured when a fist flew through his face mask.
“Stuff happens so fast out there,” he said. “So I personally don’t think it was on purpose.”
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mike McDaniel optimistic on injured Miami Dolphins including Tyreek Hill
