Dallas Cowboys at Dolphins: Miami has questionable players from injury

The latest look at the Miami side of things before the Cowboys game

• By
  
  TCDeckard
  
• on December 22, 2023 8:30 pm

Breaking Down the Final Week 16 Dolphins-Cowboys Injury Report – Alain Poupart, Sports Illustrated

The final injury reports answered some questions for this week’s matchup.

As is usual the case, the Miami Dolphins’ final injury report of the week provided few definitive answers related to their Week 16 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, which might not be a bad thing in this case.

The Dolphins ruled out only one player, that being guard Robert Hunt (hamstring), while listing seven others as questionable.

That list was headed by WR Tyreek Hill, who practiced on a limited basis for a second consecutive day Friday with his ankle injury, and also included DB Elijah Campbell (knee), S Jevon Holland (knees), CB Xavien Howard (hip), T Austin Jackson (oblique), DE Emmanuel Ogbah (hamstring) and CB Cam Smith (hamstring).

Campbell is a new name on the injury report and he was listed as limited with a knee injury, suggesting he sustained the injury in practice Friday.

Hunt’s place in the starting lineup figures to once again be taken by third-year player Robert Jones.

On a positive note, RB De’Von Achane, T Terron Armstead and OL Liam Eichenberg all didn’t get a game status designation, meaning they’re good to go.

The same goes for safety DeShon Elliott, who will be back in the lineup after missing the Jets game last Sunday because of a concussion.

Film Preview: Will the Miami Dolphins Clinch a Postseason Birth by Defeating the Cowboys Sunday? – George Forder, ThePhinsider.com

The Dolphins hope to secure a postseason berth this Sunday, but it won’t come easily.

Most Dangerous Defensive Player in the NFL

There are a ton of game changing defensive players in the NFL right now. Almost every team could make a claim to having the best… with that said, there aren’t too many (if any) players like Micah Parsons in the NFL. He has the ability to play off ball (like he did in college) and line up pretty much anywhere on the defense. Where he really wrecks games is as a pass rusher though.

The biggest problem with game planning for Parsons, is that you don’t know where they will deploy him. He’s just as good rushing from the interior as he is from the edge. Since Miami is dealing with more injuries from the interior of their offensive line, you would have to imagine that is where they will deploy him most. Lester Cotton, Rob Jones, and Liam Eichenberg (hopefully Rob Hunt plays) will get a heavy dose of Parsons.

Slowing Down Dak and the Offense

This offense goes as Dak Prescott goes. While they have some talented players at running back and one of the best offensive lines in all of football, they don’t rely too heavily on their running game. This is a big play passing attack and it will be important to stop/limit their explosive plays through the air.

One of the best ways to do that is to get after Dak Prescott. The Bills only blitzed Prescott on 17% of his drop backs, but managed to pressure him on about 25%, getting home for three sacks. The Cowboys fell behind early in that game and some injuries on the offensive line (namely Zack Martin) forced them to abandon balance and throw the football. The Bills were physical and really dominated this Cowboys team in every facet of the game. The status of the Cowboys two top lineman (Tyron Smith & Zack Martin) will have a major impact on how well they can protect Dak in this game.

Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert says Ricky Williams congratulated him after breaking his franchise record – Bryan DeArdo, CBS Sports

Miami’s speedy skill players are on display as their rushing attack is breaking records.

Raheem Mostert was 10 years old when Ricky Williams set the Miami Dolphins’ single-season record for rushing touchdowns. This past Sunday, Mostert, a Florida native who cheered for Williams during his prime years in Miami, broke Williams’ 21-year-old record when he scored rushing touchdown Nos. 17 and 18 during the Dolphins’ 30-0 win over the Jets.

Mostert, a big fan of Williams, said Miami’s star back congratulated him on breaking the record via social media.

“Honestly, I was sitting there thinking about Ricky Williams, because I grew up a big Ricky Williams fan,” Mostert said on Thursday when asked what was going through his mind after setting the record, via the Sun Sentinel. “Just this past Tuesday, I drove back to my hometown and me and my brother got to hang out at the park and we just started reminiscing about a time where we both had Ricky Williams’ jersey at one point, when we were younger.

“To be able to break that record, it’s so surreal for him and I, because we looked up to Rickey when we were younger, for sure.”

Williams isn’t the only Dolphins legend who has had a record broken this season by Mostert. He broke former Pro Bowl receiver Mark Clayton’s 39-year-old franchise record for single season touchdowns scored when he scored his 19th touchdown of the season against the Jets.

Top Quotes – Dolphins Looking for Back-To-Back Wins in Christmas Eve Matchup Against Dallas – Carter Owen, MiamiDolphins.com

Many in the Dolphins organization had plenty of praise for Dallas.

Preparing for the Cowboys

Head Coach Mike McDaniel

(On what he’s noticed from Dallas LB Micah Parsons) – “He is one of the best players in the National Football League in any position. And I don’t think it’s really debatable. This dude is different. The orchestration that he has with his teammates and the stuff that Coach (Dan) Quinn does with the multiplicity of his alignments, you can tell not only is he unique in skillset, but you don’t play all the way across the line and in the stack and do all the things that he does without having a true love for the game. I would probably say he’s more fun to watch when you’re not going to play him. But that being said, I like the challenge of facing elite players like our players do. It’s really cool to watch because when you combine talent with strain, that’s rarified air, and in general with the level of talent and the level of strain he exhibits. So, he is a real dude for sure.”

Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio

(On what stands out from watching tape of Cowboys QB Dak Prescott) – “He’s playing at a very high level. He has been all year. He seems really comfortable in the new offense. Mike (McCarthy) has a really good offense schematically and he does a good job of play-calling it. Prescott is really comfortable in it. They mix the quick game, mix the shots, mix their formations. I think the offense really fits Prescott.”

Here is the Cowboys’ final injury report for Week 16.

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