The Miami Dolphins did not practice on Christmas Day, but they released a league-mandated injury report Wednesday which revealed new injuries to two starting defenders.

The Dolphins, in estimations of practice participation while not going through drills, reported that linebacker Anthony Walker and safety Jordan Poyer would have missed a Wednesday practice.

Poyer is dealing with new knee and finger injuries. Walker has a new knee ailment. Both appeared to make it through last Sunday’s win against the San Francisco 49ers fine.

The Dolphins face another must-win game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Along with the Poyer and Walker injuries, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle’s knee ailment that kept him out of the 49ers game also would’ve kept him off the practice field Wednesday. Cornerback Kendall Fuller, who is week to week after hurting his knee Sunday, was listed as a non-participant.

Also deemed to be missing a Wednesday session were left tackle Terron Armstead and defensive tackle Calais Campbell, Armstead with his ailing knee and Campbell for rest.

Listed as limited for Miami: wide receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist/rest), quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip), linebacker Jordyn Brooks (quadriceps/knee), fullback Alec Ingold (ankle), wide receiver Dee Eskridge (knee).

For the Browns, they listed three players as non-participants in their own practice report estimation: tight end David Njoku (knee), defensive end Ogbo Okoronkwo (knee) and defensive tackle Shelby Harris (elbow). Among those limited: both quarterbacks in Jameis Winston (right shoulder) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (calf) and leading wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (knee/shin).

No Christmas help

While not directly affecting the Dolphins’ playoff chances, it didn’t help that the Kansas City Chiefs locked up the AFC’s top seed Wednesday with their win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Miami could’ve used a scenario where the Chiefs still had something to play for on Week 18, in the event the Dolphins are still alive by way of the playoff spot currently held by the Denver Broncos.

Should the Dolphins win Sunday in Cleveland and the Broncos lose in Cincinnati, one thing Miami would need in Week 18 would be a Denver loss to Kansas City. But it’s now unknown if the Chiefs will play their starters against the Broncos in that game.

The simplest path for the Dolphins to get into the postseason would be to win out, have the Indianapolis Colts lose one of their last two games and the Broncos lose both of their remaining games. But, they could also have two Los Angeles Chargers losses replace either the Broncos or Colts scenario, albeit unlikely as the Chargers face the lowly Patriots and Raiders.

Sanders, complementary football good to see in December

Coach Mike McDaniel said one reason the Dolphins were able to take a 22-17 lead in last week’s 29-17 win over San Francisco was because he had so much confidence in kicker Jason Sanders and the Dolphins defense.

Sanders, who has made a franchise-record 23 consecutive field goals, including eight consecutive from 50 or more yards, kicked a 48-yard field goal to cap a seven-play, 41-yard drive that took 4:27 off the clock.

Six of the seven plays of that drive were clock-chewing runs as McDaniel knew he could count on Sanders for a long field goal and the defense to make a stop.

The Dolphins’ defense, which is No. 7 in the league, got an interception two plays after the field goal.

“You can play appropriate complementary ball and that’s what we’ve been striving for,” McDaniel said, “but the play-calling decision was a direct result of that conviction and confidence which allows teams to really have to do above and beyond to beat you.

“And that’s the way you want to be playing December football, is hedging your bet, taking calculated risks, but being able to lean on all three phases to get the ‘W.’ ”

Getting ready for Myles Garrett

The Dolphins’ pass protection package has a huge challenge this week in Cleveland’s Myles Garrett (12.0 sacks), one of the league’s best pass rushers.

Left tackle Terron Armstead and right tackle Kendall Lamm led a strong pass-protection package last week that didn’t allow any sacks on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa against 49ers pass rushers Nick Bosa (7.0 sacks) and Leonard Floyd (8.5 sacks).

Interestingly, Tagovailoa has been sacked 14 times in 11 starts and there have only been two games in which he wasn’t sacked – the 32-26 overtime victory against the New York Jets three weeks ago and last week against San Francisco.

Tagovailoa, 6-5 as a starter this season, has taken multiple sacks in six of his 11 starts.

Pass protection, which also includes tight ends and running backs, has been feast or famine in the last four games with Green Bay recording five sacks and Houston recording three.

Originally Published: December 25, 2024 at 4:27 PM EST