Dolphins’ Jerome Baker going on IR; Christian Wilkins okay

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins linebacker Jerome Baker will indeed be going on injured reserve, coach Mike McDaniel said Saturday.

It was initially thought the MCL injury in his knee suffered in last Sunday’s win over the Washington Commanders would not land him on IR, but the team made the decision as the week progressed.

With five weeks left in the regular season, Baker will be out a minimum of four games.

Without Baker, the Dolphins are slated to rely on inside linebacker Duke Riley as his replacement in the starting lineup.

“This is more about team needs, really the collective accumulation of the roster and multiple positions, because it was right on the fringe of yes or no with it,” McDaniel said. “Things change every day, which is why I don’t stamp anything that’s unknown. So, we’ll be going in that direction now and feel good about that.”

The Dolphins are able to designate one more player to return off either IR or the non-football injury list after already using seven of their allotted eight. The seventh being running back Chris Brooks, who has been practicing and could be activated off IR against the Titans.

McDaniel said that last spot could very well go to Baker, but he didn’t commit to it Saturday. Miami also has offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn (quadriceps) and running back Salvon Ahmed (foot) among players on IR that could return, and wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (neck) is on NFI. Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips is on IR and out for the season with his torn Achilles.

Some good news for the Dolphins on Saturday is that the groin injury for defensive tackle Christian Wilkins that popped up on the team’s Friday injury report should not sideline him.

McDaniel said he’s not worried about Wilkins’ availability for the team’s Monday night game against the Tennessee Titans after the groin ailment limited Wilkins in Friday drills.

“Christian, I’m not worried about him playing Monday night, unless new information comes across,” McDaniel said. “I’m pretty confident that he will.”

Regarding safety Jevon Holland, who missed last Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders with both knees hurt, McDaniel said it’s a “wait and see” for his availability against the Titans.

“Not because of any other reason but we are truly letting him progress,” McDaniel said, “and I want to see how he feels (Saturday) on the practice field — and then I want to see how he feels (Sunday) from it.”

Left tackle Terron Armstead will be listed as questionable heading into Monday night, per McDaniel, as he now deals with an ankle injury sustained at Washington in a week where he’s still receiving treatment for his ailing knee but got better from his quadriceps injury.

“No setbacks for Armstead,” said McDaniel, noting the decision will come down to game time with Kendall Lamm and Kion Smith the backup options at tackle.

McDaniel ruled out right guard Robert Hunt, who was not seen at Saturday practice after missing the week’s first two practices. A guard combination of Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton is slated to start Monday.

Munson signing

The Dolphins signed linebacker Calvin Munson on Saturday to the active roster off the New England Patriots’ practice squad.

Munson provides depth at a position where Miami will be without Baker for at least this week and possibly more.

Munson has longstanding previous experience with the Dolphins, playing 22 games with the team from 2019 to 2021.

The Dolphins also announced practice squad linebacker Alexander Johnson, who was a candidate to be elevated this week and could’ve contributed on special teams, was placed on the practice squad injured list.

It’s a Monday night party

The Dolphins will host a series of initiatives for “Monday Night Football” at Hard Rock Stadium.

Pregame, there will be Hanukkah celebrations on the stadium’s south plaza, a drone show over the team’s training facility adjacent to the stadium, a giveaway of glow-in-the-dark shirts available to the first 50,000 fans that enter the stadium and player introductions will feature a fan interactive light show on the team app.

There will be a halftime performance from Jhayco, a Puerto Rican platinum rapper and singer, with an interactive light show.

Limited single-game tickets for the Monday night matchup are still available. Fans can visit miamidolphins.com/tickets for more information.

This story will be updated.