The biggest injury question for the Miami Dolphins in Week 8 belongs to their opponent
The Miami Dolphins have a pair of starters in concussion protocol but the biggest injury question of the week belongs to their opponent.
The Miami Dolphins still have a pair of starters in concussion protocol as we enter Friday — both guard Kadyn Proctor and cornerback JuJu Brents are trying to work their way through to return to the field.
But after a surprising Thursday development, neither is the biggest injury storyline of the weekend for the Week 8 contest against the New England Patriots. As a matter of fact, that title doesn’t even belong to Miami anymore. Their AFC East rivals have seen their new star receiver, AJ Brown, sidelined this week on account of a nee injury. And it reportedly has his status for Sunday very much in doubt.
The Miami Dolphins may end up missing WR AJ Brown on Sunday
“AJ Brown’s status for the game on Sunday is very much up in the air. But it is not about the ankle injury that he suffered a couple of weeks ago, that he came back from after just four weeks…this is about a knee that has bothered him off and on for the last several years. My understanding is the knee issue flared up early in the week, (he) did not practice yesterday. We’ll see if he’s able to get out there today but may not play on Sunday.”
— NFL insider Ian Rapoport on New England Patriots wide receiver AJ Brown
Amid the Dolphins’ own concussion recoveries for OG Kadyn Proctor and CB JuJu Brents, the absence of AJ Brown would undoubtedly be the most monumental injury development for either team. Sure, Miami’s loss of De’Von Achane is a massive blow, but the team’s running game has been able to thrive regardless. Brown’s gravitational pull in the secondary is massive and the amount of attention he commands is significant.
Should Brown not be able to go, the Patriots are already set to play this game without WR Romeo Doubs. It would leave them thin on the perimeter and potentially allow Miami to play tighter against the tight end duo of Hunter Henry and rookie Eli Raridon. Is that enough to swing the tide of the game? It’s hard to say. But after it looked like Miami’s injury concerns were going to headline this game, Brown and the Patriots have stole their thunder going into the last practice of the week. Let’s see what comes out today.
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