At this point in an NFL season, no franchise is truly healthy going into games. For the New York Jets and Miami Dolphins, both teams are dealing with significant injuries to both sides of the ball, and both teams are trying to manage rosters that are banged up.
In the case of the Jets, Gang Green seems to be leaning towards another change to their offensive line ahead of significant updates regarding their franchise quarterback. For Miami, their best offensive player may not even be able to suit up in Week 15.
With both sides dealing with injury troubles, let’s go through each game designation heading into the weekend.
New York Jets
Carter Warren – OUT
Jason Brownlee – OUT
Max Mitchell – QUESTIONABLE
Will McDonald (Knee) – QUESTIONABLE
McDonald was a late addition to the injury report on Friday morning with a knee injury. While head coach Robert Saleh did say that it was nothing to be concerned over, this could be the week that Carl Lawson is brought back to the active roster after over a month of being a healthy inactive.
Regarding fourth-round rookie Carter Warren, Saleh emphasized that the team does not believe his injury is that serious and should be able to return this year. With four games remaining, New York could have placed Warren on IR but chose not to. The Jets have been impressed with Warren’s tape to this point and believe he could be a viable piece of the puzzle in the future.
If Mitchell were unable to go due to his injury, Billy Turner would be the penciled-in starter at right tackle. In Sunday’s 30-6 win over the Houston Texans, Turner stepped in for Mitchell and had the highest Pro Football Focus grade of any lineman on the Jets.
The Aaron Rodgers Question
All eyes have been on whether the four-time NFL MVP would return to the field this season after tearing his Achilles four offensive plays into Week 1. While there is some doubt that the future Hall-of-Famer will return at some point this year, Saleh did acknowledge that Rodgers “pushed it” at practice on Thursday by taking snaps under center and participating in individual drills with the other quarterbacks.
Saleh did not confirm a report earlier in the week that Rodgers would return to the playing field on Christmas Eve when the Jets battle the Commanders, but he did mention that Rodgers “looked normal” to him and that “This dude is grinding to try to get himself back.”
The next step for Rodgers’ recovery would be going through 11-on-11 work in practice – something the Jets are waiting on permission from the doctors to get.
Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill – QUESTIONABLE
Hill missed his third practice of the week Friday and is considered a “game day conversation” according to Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. The All-Pro wideout suffered an ankle injury during Miami’s 28-27 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Monday night and is listed as QUESTIONABLE for Sunday’s game.
Even if Hill did not participate against the Jets, New York understands that the Dolphins offense is still an elite group with plenty of top players on the roster.
“We’re operating as if he’s playing,” Saleh stated. “If he doesn’t, they still have other track stars to execute the offense.”
While Hill’s status is something to watch out for, Miami is also decimated along their offensive line. Starting center Connor Williams was lost for the year after suffering a torn ACL in Monday’s loss, and the team already has Liam Eichenber and Terron Armstead on the injury report for this week.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for further updates.
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