Miami Dolphins potentially head into Monday Night’s game against the Tennessee Titans with a crisis at cornerback.
Veteran cornerback Kendall Fuller, who was signed this offseason to serve as the starter opposite Jalen Ramsey, is in the NFL’s concussion protocol after sustaining a head injury in Miami’s 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, and Storm Duck is nursing a shoulder injury that could impact his on-field performance.
“No timelines, and day to day,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said when addressing his injured players, which includes Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, who is also in the concussion protocol. “Just making sure they are getting back to full health and assessing the plan after that. I couldn’t rule anyone out for anything, but I don’t have scope [of the injury] either.”
Fuller, who has contributed 13 tackles and two pass breakups in the previous three games, must pass the NFL’s concussion protocol process, and that requires his symptoms to subside.
If neither cornerback is healthy enough to play in Monday’s home game against the Titans – which features one of the best receiver trios the Dolphins will face in 2024 in De’Andre Hopkins, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd. The Dolphins would be forced to lean on practice squad players to make it through the game.
Duck, who has accounted for seven tackles in the 37 defensive snaps he has played this season, returned to the game Sunday after sustaining the shoulder injury. However, playing a cornerback with a bad shoulder, especially against physical receivers such as Hopkins and Ridley, could be a recipe for disaster.
Kader Kohou, who pulled down the first interception of the season against the Seahawks, could move outside to play opposite Ramsey. He has played both inside and outside some, but struggled working outside last season. And last year’s game against the Titans was one of his worst.
There’s the possibility that Ethan Bonner, who spent his rookie season on practice squad but made it onto the 53-man roster based on his training camp performance, could replace Fuller. Bonner hasn’t been active for the first three games, mainly because of Duck’s special teams contribution.
If Kohou works outside full-time the Dolphins could have Nik Needham handle the nickel role. Needham has started 27 games in his six seasons, but is on Miami’s practice squad this season while he makes a full-time transition to safety.
The Dolphins also have rookie cornerback Isaiah Johnson, an undrafted rookie from Syracuse, on the practice squad, and could also elevate him.
Practice squad players can be elevated to the game day roster three times before they have to be placed on the 53-man roster to participate in a regular season game.
