The Miami Dolphins had four of the team's starters return to practice Thursday as the team continued preparations for Sunday night's nationally televised game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cornerback Xavien Howard and center Connor Williams, who are both nursing groin injuries, and fullback Alec Ingold, who has been nursing a foot injury for the past two weeks, all were at practice. And Kendall Lamm, the offensive lineman who has replaced Terron Armstead as the starting left tackle for four of the six games, returned to the team after missing practice Wednesday to handle a personal issue. However, linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who leads the team with four sacks, wasn't spotted during the media viewing period during Thursday's practice. His status likely will be clarified later in the afternoon when the injury report comes out. But Van Ginkel was not on Wednesday's injury report. Could Howard play Sunday? The return of Howard, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, could be a key factor in the game because the Eagles feature the best receiver duo Miami likely will face all season in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, who have combined for 70 receptions, which they have turned into 1,005 yards and four touchdowns. Howard, who has a 76.5 opponent passer rating when targeted this season, is Miami's best defender in the secondary. That passer rating is the best in Miami's secondary, which has the NFL's sixth-worst passer rating (98.9) for opposing quarterbacks this season. If Howard doesn't play against the Eagles, Miami could be forced to use one of the team's backups — Justin Bethel, Parry Nickerson or rookie Cam Smith — in a starting role. The Dolphins also could activate Nik Needham off PUP. He's practiced for the past two weeks, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio hinted that he might need more time coming back from the Achilles injury he suffered last October. Will Connor Williams miss second straight game? Williams has been nursing a groin injury for the past month. He missed his second game of the season last Sunday, and the Dolphins are committed to letting his groin injury heal so it won't impact his performance in the final months of the regular season, and the playoffs. But it appears they were testing out the injury Thursday. If Williams doesn't play this week, Eichenberg likely would start his third game at center. Last week Eichenberg redeemed himself by playing a solid game, making a significant improvement from his dismal performance in Miami's 48-20 loss against the Buffalo Bills. According to Wynn, it’s Eichenberg’s leadership that has helped the offensive line settle in, becoming one of the NFL's top performing units this season. “[He’s] getting us in the right position at the right time because a lot of times we get different things sometimes during the game that we may not have seen or we haven’t seen in a while,” Wynn said of Eichenberg. “His ability to put us in the right spot has been good.”
2-point favorite vs. the Dolphins GAME TIME: Sunday, Oct. 22nd, 2023 at 8:20 p.m. ET LOCATION: Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA The defending NFC Champion Eagles are fresh off their first loss of the season in a surprise 20-14 defeat to the New York Jets. It was the first time in franchise history the Eagles have lost to the Jets. The Dolphins cruised to a 42-21 victory against the Carolina Panthers at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts looks to bounce back from his worst performance of the season. He completed 28 of 45 passes for 280 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions, the last of which led to New York's game-winning touchdown just one play later with 1:46 left in the game. "We've been here before, it's all about how you respond to it," Hurts said. "I got a feeling that we'll come in with some great intensity and some of these things, they build character. I say that all the time it truly builds character so this team just has to respond the right way." Philadelphia's defense is facing arguably its biggest challenge of the season Sunday night when Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Raheem Mostert and Co. come to town. The Dolphins are averaging 499 yards per game, ranking second highest in NFL history through six games. Only Kurt Warner and the 2000 "Greatest Show on Turf" St. Louis Rams averaged more. The Philadelphia defense ranks second in the NFL against the run, allowing 65.8 yards per game. The health of the Eagles defense is crucial for this one as the secondary battles mounting injuries. The Eagles have already shuffled through 15 defensive backs after enduring season-ending injuries to cornerbacks Avonte Maddox and Zech McPhearson. Keep an eye on the status of Darius Slay (knee) and Jalen Carter (ankle) vs. Miami. Both were limited in Wednesday's practice. Carter missed Week 6 due to injury. However, through his first five NFL games, Carter has 11 combined tackles, four quarterback hits, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. Philadelphia Defensive coordinator Sean Desai on the efficient Dolphins offense: “There’s a lot of things to troubleshoot," Desai said. "They’re extremely fast, extremely explosive. I think Coach McDaniel does a great job, and Coach Smith over there on offense, they do a great job, and they’ve got playmakers at all levels of the offense and attack all levels of our defense."
Just don't get blown out this game. If I remember correctly, we don't have the best Sunday Night Football record. There is a lot of smoke that is being blown the Dolphins way this week that includes insults to our strength of schedule and as usual, Tua. I don't really think this has to be a prove it game for Tua regardless of what happens this week. Tua had the game last year that proved it to me that he can survive in tough situations and that was the late season game up in Buffalo. McDaniel will ultimately be responsible for how this game goes. Lets hope that he doesn't follow the trend of abandoning the run in these big games when we get behind. We also need him to continue to call plays downfield regardless of what's happening in the game. I've seen him get WR screen heavy or check down heavy once pressure is applied. We need a solid game from the coach that will probably have to include some adjustments. He needs to have an answer if Tyreek is taken away this weekend. I don't see any way our defense hangs with the Eagles Sunday. Our secondary is going to be completely overmatched. It will take some mistakes from Hurts and maybe a few dialed up pressures in key spots from Fangio. I just don't want to be blown out in another big game. Buffalo stomped us, don't let it happen again.
It's a great test. Yes, we need to keep beating up on mediocre teams. It's been a long time since we had a team that could do that. That alone makes us a playoff team. But we need to see how well we play against a top 5 team. First test against Buffalo did not work out well. Now come two important tests: Philly and KC. As long as we at minimum split the two I think we truly belong in the top 5, but lose both and it's clear we have a ways to go. Still confident about this game, and this team in general. Very different from previous years. 6-1 coming up!
A loss here isn't the worst thing in the long run with Philadelphia being an NFC opponent. With that said, I fully expect Miami to win. Philadelphia isn't really clicking yet and they have to take advantage of that.
Also they were the NFC Champs last year. Everyone is getting their panties in a knot if we don't win. Maybe at this stage of the season were not ready to win this game. Maybe in 4 weeks we will be. Maybe we are. But a lose to an NFC team let alone last years champion isn't the end of the world. If I would of checks everyones predictions, I would bet ALMOST EVERYONE OF YOU HAD THIS GAME MARKED AS A LOSS. Now somehow its different? Even though were going to win. And blow them out.
We don't play the NFC East well, historically, which I know means nothing for this particular game but it does loom in the background. We also don't play Josh Allen well and Jalen Hurts plays his game a lot like Josh Allen except (usually) without the wild turnovers and laying himself out for bad hits. Not to mention the Eagles have a monster defensive line. I'm thinking we lose this one.
We got this. Both teams have only beaten bad to mediocre teams. The difference is Miami beats the snot out of bad teams and the Eagles don't.
how come noone is talking about our Injury situation they look to have everyone back, we look to have armstead, Ramsey, Williams, X, Achane out. if those two scenarios come to fruition this game means very little to me and has no barometer on what type of team we will be at the end of the year.
My prediction this offseason about Hurts, was the same one as I did for russell Wilson three years ago.. he's infected...I hope we lay his azz out win or lose.
This game is a great test for Miami and possibly the game of the year so far. Win or lose, I just want to see us competitive and finding adjustments to Philly's ridiculous defensive front. Tua will probably not be clean all day like we're used to unless the ball is really coming out fast- which he can do. McDaniel has a big role to play this week as well on how to establish the run to open up passing lanes. I feel like Miami can win this one and it would be great to shut up the few remaining nay-sayers. But darn, Philly is legit. Both teams have secondary issues and it could be a high scoring game. My gut reaction? 44 to 38, Philly. Really hoping I'm wrong.
Adam Schefter just said they're going to get their injured defensive players back for the game, including Darius Slay.
I’m not worried about ‘only beating bad teams’ for 2 reasons. Firstly, of the 5 teams we’ve beaten the Dolphins alone are responsible for over 22.5% of their losses, i.e. part of the reason why their records suck is because they’ve played the Dolphins. Secondly we’ve ROFL stomped them, which is what good teams are supposed to do to bad teams. I’m not worried about the ‘not beating the only good team we’ve played’. Firstly Josh Allen played the best game of the year against us, and he’s had some pretty dismal games mixed in this year as well. Which tells me that when you’re playing the Bills sometimes you get lucky or unlucky on which Josh Allen turned up to play. Secondly even with the Bills offense playing as good as they possibly could and the Bills Defense playing really well we still scored 20 points and Tua had a passer rating over 90. For most offenses playing their worst game of the year against a top D means single digit points scored. Teams that play their best game of the year in September or October rarely win Superbowls. Philly are a legitimately good team, and it should be a close game. We’ve had teething problems and the Defense and our OL is still gelling in the new scheme. It would hurt to see the Dolphins get beat bad, but at this stage of the season it may happen and it won’t be the end of the world. I’d be much more worried about getting beat bad by good teams in November/December than September/October.
We can beat them. I'm not going to cry and blame Tua though if we don't. The only thing I don't want to see (aside from injuries) is another blowout loss. Personally, I see this coming down to whoever has the ball last. We're going to have some opportunities to steal this thing. Just have to take advantage of them and not make mistakes on our side. Water is wet, death is certain, I also think Tua will throw an interception in this game.
Jeff Wilson Jr should be back this week, I'm sure he will have a point to prove, he's almost the forgotten man of the backfield. The closer the game gets, the more confidence I'm getting but I still think we drop this one. If everyone on the OL does their job adequately and doesn't get blown up instantly on 90% of the plays like against Buffalo then the offence will still be clicking as I don't think the Eagles LB's or DB's are as good as Buffalo's and I think Miami Mike will have some new wrinkles this week if they try to jam the receivers. The defence still scares the crap out of me, I just hope they can make 1 or 2 plays that turn the game. The low number of turnovers is continuing on from last season, that has to change.
Wilson was full participation in practice this week. Does that mean he's available? Brooks was placed on IR, so I'm assuming Wilson's going to be elevated tomorrow.
Wilson activated, Needham ruled out: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38711405/dolphins-rb-jeff-wilson-jr-activated-ir-eagles-game Sounds like if Needham doesn’t get activated next week, his season is over.
I watched some of the Eagles/Jets game last night and the Eagles didn’t really impress me. That was obviously a bad game for them. Our OL better hold up. Their D can get to the QB. Stick with the quick passing game.
I didn’t think so either, but with X not 100%, Kohou not playing as well as last year and Apple looking washed up, he’s needed back this week, being that we’re going up against a really good pair of WRs.
Hope it doesn’t end like this at all but I’m feeling 41-24 Eagles. I don’t believe in this defense at all and Mike tends to panic when things aren’t going well in these games. Tua also tends to panic and starts forcing some things. I think the only way we avoid this tonight is if we get a hot start from the defense. A turnover early would be huge for us. This defense doesn’t get turnovers though. I hope I get surprised tonight! Huge game for the franchise tonight. Go Dolphins!
Might happen, but I doubt it. If the Fins get pounded and lose big, I think they'd still score at least 17 or so, 10 of those in garbage time.
Alan in England thinks Tua is mediocre so the prediction makes sense. He said he'd take back his words on Tua only if Tua takes us deep into the playoffs. So brace yourself for more such predictions lol. Sadly the prediction of the defense giving up 31 might not be too far off unless Fangio has this defense playing better after more time to get used to his scheme. But yes we're almost certainly putting up a lot more points. The minimum we put up was 20 against Buffalo, the 3rd ranked defense by points allowed per game. Philly is merely average on defense.
I think Buffalo is still having offensive issues more than the Pats turning into the 85 Bears defense. It would be sweet to see the Bills lose today though -frankly it takes the pressure off of trying to stay ahead of them in the division. Miami could play loose tonight against the Eagles.
