Dolphins without several starters Monday. And Thompson discusses injury, Seahawks fallout
Besides quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the Dolphins likely will be without at least three other starters for Monday’s game against visiting Tennessee (7:15 p.m., CBS-4/ESPN).
Left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller remain in concussion protocol and were ruled out for Monday’s game. Linebacker David Long Jr. is doubtful with a hamstring injury.
Three players were listed as questionable: running back Raheem Mostert (chest), quarterback Skylar Thompson (ribs) and receiver Malik Washington (quadriceps).
Cornerbacks Siran Neal and Storm Duck, who were slowed by injuries earlier in the week, have no injury designation and will play Monday.
Anthony Walker Jr. likely will replace Long at inside linebacker.
Coach Mike McDaniel was not ready to name fill-in starters for Armstead and Fuller. Rookie Patrick Paul and veteran Kendall Lamm are the options to replace Armstead at left tackle. Nobody would be surprised if Paul starts.
At cornerback, Duck and nickel cornerback Kader Kohou are in line for more playing time in Fuller’s absence, and Ethan Bonner figures to be active for the first time this season.
The Dolphins could elevate one of two cornerbacks on their practice squad: Nik Needham or Isaiah Johnson.
Mostert, who has been sidelined with a chest injury since the second half of the opening game, “is trying” to be ready for Monday, McDaniel said. But “we are not going to prematurely put ourselves out there if we are going to take steps back and not protect ourselves. He wants to [play] in the worst way.”
Mostert said Friday that it’s a “toss-up” if he plays on Monday.
▪ Meanwhile, Tennessee listed two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as doubtful for Monday’s game because of an elbow injury. And standout cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is questionable with a hamstring injury.
THOMPSON’S THOUGHTS
In his first public comments since starting last Sunday, Thompson said he remains in discomfort from a rib/chest injury sustained during that game in Seattle.
“It’s been pretty painful,” he said Saturday. “Trying to maneuver through it. Not a lot you can do for it. That’s what’s tough. Doing everything I can to promote the process and heal up. Definitely been discomforting for sure.”
What simple life tasks have been uncomfortable? “Breathing, sneezing, laughing, even hiccups, all those little things. It kind of [stinks].”
Asked if he’s healthy enough to be the team’s emergency third quarterback on Monday behind starter Tyler Huntley and backup Tim Boyle, Thompson said: “Don’t know that information yet. That’s still a decision to be made for sure.”
Before leaving the Seahawks game with the injury (which he says is not a fracture), Thompson went 13 for 19 for 107 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, and was sacked five times, most of which were the result of holding the ball too long.
Thompson was the team’s quarterback for seven full possessions. Miami’s only points on those seven possessions came on a field goal after a Kohou interception gave the Dolphins the ball at Seattle’s 6 yard line. Miami mustered only two yards in three plays before the Jason Sanders field goal.
Asked to assess his performance in the game, Thompson said: “I definitely wasn’t pleased. It was a challenging game. Where I stand as the quarterback, it’s my responsibility and we had trouble moving the ball all day and were out of sync. That falls on my lap and my shoulders.
“It was a good environment. Super loud. And [that] played [an] effect in some ways. You’ve got to overcome those challenges and work through those and I will. It’s not going to be something that’s going to knock me down. It was still a great learning experience and another step in my journey, good or bad. It’s going to make me better in the long run.”
Was it difficult to hear play calls in his helmet? “The start of the game they were loud and it made the communication challenging for sure.”
Thompson said he hopes to start again before Tagovailoa returns from a concussion: “Yeah, absolutely… I’m going to stay confident, stay believing in myself, and focus on things I can control.”
