Dolphins’ Jevon Holland returns Hail Mary for pick-six vs. Jets
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — There was a Hail Mary that went for a touchdown in the Miami Dolphins’ 34-13 Black Friday win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
But not like you would normally see.
Jets quarterback Tim Boyle tried a deep heave at the end of the first half. Dolphins safety Jevon Holland camped under it like a punt return, and with most of the New York pass-catchers overrunning the pass, Holland faced no resistance intercepting the pass.
Then, with the best Jets athletes on the field were behind him in the end zone, Holland immediately set his sights on returning it the other way.
He went for a 99-yard touchdown that sent Miami into halftime leading, 17-6.
“All the skill positions were all down by me,” Holland said, “so when I caught it, it was basically like a drop on a long field goal. So, I kept it straight and then I ended up bending it to the right. I seen all linemen and I seen Christian (Wilkins) and Zach (Sieler) and all those guys, so I knew had lead blockers. I needed to find my little crease. Boom, then I seen Christian handle the running back. I was like, ‘Oh yeah, I’m good.’ Then it was just me and the quarterback. Unfortunately, I had to take his ankles.”
“He knew what time it was and he made sure to finish the play, which was awesome,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told the Amazon Prime broadcast at halftime.
It came at a moment in the game when it appeared the Dolphins were about to keep the offensively inept Jets in the game with Tua Tagovailoa throwing two interceptions 65 seconds apart with under two minutes to play before halftime. One of them was returned for a touchdown by Jets cornerback Brandin Echols.
Holland later left the game in the fourth quarter with a knee injury and did not return.
Jaelan Phillips carted off
Dolphins edge defender Jaelan Phillips suffered an Achilles injury in the fourth quarter Friday and was carted off the MetLife Stadium field.
Phillips took off out of his stance to rush the passer, and it appeared he stumbled on a misstep with his right leg. He lied on the ground, and the cart came onto the field to take him into the locker room.
Broadcast cameras showed Phillips covering his face with a towel as he was driven inside. After the game, Phillips was seen in good spirits, interacting with teammates. He had two crutches and a boot on his right foot.
“It doesn’t look great, but we’ll find out more (Saturday),” McDaniel said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but not fired up about it.”
Phillips was having himself a game before the injury. He had four tackles, three for loss, a sack and a pass deflection Friday.
Armstead exits
In the middle of the third quarter, Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead exited the game with a quadriceps injury.
He was seen standing near the team’s injury tent on its sideline but did not enter for further evaluation before then pacing the sideline gingerly with hands on his hips and eventually taking a seat. He was questionable to return, according to the team, but did not return.
Armstead entered Friday with a questionable designation as he’s been playing through the knee injury that he has been recovering from since the Oct. 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
With backup tackle Kendall Lamm hampered by a back injury that was unknown before Friday, Kion Smith entered for Armstead at left tackle.
The Dolphins lost another starter when right tackle Austin Jackson was ejected early in the fourth quarter during a skirmish on a Miami extra point. Jets edge defender Michael Clemons was also disqualified. With Jackson out, Lamm entered at left tackle and Smith went to right tackle.
Achane misses game
Dolphins rookie running back De’Von Achane was out against the Jets.
Achane, who entered questionable with his knee injury, was among Dolphins inactives announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff at MetLife Stadium.
Achane went through a limited practice on the short week since aggravating the same right knee that kept him out four weeks on injured reserve in last Sunday’s 20-13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Achane tested out the knee, according to NFL Network, but it “just didn’t quite feel right” and is not expected to be something that keeps him out long-term.
Without the rookie phenom who has averaged 11.8 yards per carry, the Dolphins gave Raheem Mostert the bulk of the workload with Jeff Wilson Jr. spelling him. Miami had also elevated fellow running back Darrynton Evans from the practice squad to the game-day roster Thursday.
Achane was one of eight Dolphins who entered Friday’s game questionable, but only one other was inactive, wide receiver Chase Claypool with his ailing knee. Offensive lineman Robert Jones was doubtful with his knee injury and indeed was downgraded to out prior to the AFC East matchup.
Armstead (knee), Jackson (oblique), Robert Hunt (hamstring) and Lester Cotton (hip) were all active after they entered Friday questionable. The team had added Lamm to the injury report Friday morning due to a bad back, but he ending up playing.
Hunt, however, did not start at his usual right guard spot, as Liam Eichenberg again was in for him at his post.
McDaniel had said he expected all to dress, leaving the possibility, though, that Hunt may not start in his usual right guard spot. Hunt appeared available only if linemen get injured during the game.
Healthy inactives for the Dolphins were wide receiver Robbie Chosen, cornerback Eli Apple and quarterback Skylar Thompson.
For the Jets, tackle Mekhi Becton was out after New York tried to have him give it a go with his ankle and knee injuries. The Jets’ other inactives: Quarterback Zach Wilson, cornerback Michael Carter II, wide receiver Allen Lazard, defensive lineman Carl Lawson, and offensive lineman Austin Deculus. Wilson was available as the emergency third quarterback, but he’s down on the depth chart with Trevor Siemian the backup to new starter Tim Boyle.
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