Miami Dolphins Make Moves; Liam Eichenberg Ruled Out
The Miami Dolphins made their usual Saturday practice squad elevations for their playoff game at Buffalo, but it was the one move they didn’t make that stands out.
The Dolphins elevated two players from the practice squad — running back La’Mical Perine and offensive lineman Lester Cotton — but did not elevate quarterback Mike Glennon, as they did for the regular season finale against the New York Jets.
The Dolphins also announced Saturday that offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg had been downgraded from doubtful to out and didn’t travel to Buffalo. He sustained a hand injury in the 11-6 victory against the New York Jets last Sunday.
This obviously indicates that the Dolphins are comfortable with what veteran Teddy Bridgewater would be able to do if he’s asked to come into the game to replace starter Skylar Thompson.
The Dolphins had three quarterbacks active during their victory against the Jets, and it’s unclear he would have come into the game had something happened with Thompson.
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FIRST ELEVATION FOR BOTH LA’MICAL PERINE AND LESTER COTTON
The move with Perine was to be expected once running back Raheem Mostert was ruled out because of the thumb injury he sustained against the New York Jets.
Perine will serve as the third running back behind Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed, who figures to get his most extensive action of the season.
As for Cotton, he will give the Dolphins a 10th offensive lineman, though there are injury question marks with the three tackles listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week — Terron Armstead, Brandon Shell and Kendall Lamm.
Greg Little is the tackle on the 53-man roster, though it’s possible the Dolphins could again use starting right guard Robert Hunt at tackle, as they did against the Jets after Shell was injured.
In a best-case scenario where Armstead, Shell and Lamm are available, the starting five up front figures to be, from left, Armstead, Robert Jones, Connor Williams, Hunt and Shell.
In a worst-case scenario where the three questionable players are all out, the starting five might look like, from left, Little, Jones, Williams, Cotton and Hunt.
The other offensive linemen on the roster are newcomer Geron Christian and center Michael Deiter, who has played special teams in every game but has not played a snap on offense all season.
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