The final injury report for the Miami Dolphins has a surprise starter being ruled out, along with multiple other players being hit with questionable statuses.
The Miami Dolphins are set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a huge injury report. Well ahead of the game, three players have been ruled out, with one being a surprise.
Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick has been ruled out, which is not a surprise. Head coach Mike McDaniel indicated that would be the case. Joining him is cornerback Isaiah Johnson, who was seen at the facility in crutches and a walking boot.
The surprise player that has been ruled out is defensive tackle Benito Jones. Jones has been dealing with a back injury that kept him limited in practice. Now, he will miss the Buccaneers game.
On top of the three players ruled out, the final injury report places a questionable status on multiple starters.
Center Aaron Brewer, safety Andrew Meyer, linebacker Tyrel Dodson, and kicker Jason Sanders are all questionable.
When speaking to the media on Friday, McDaniel indicated that Meyer and Dodson would go through practice to determine their availability for the game.
Sanders was also put through scenarios where he kicked to see if he could handle being back on the field. McDaniel also praised Riley Patterson, whose praise was somewhat of a tell that Sanders may not return in Week 17.
Brewer indicated to reporters that his playing status would be a "game time decision."
If Brewer cannot suit up, the Dolphins would likely rely on Meyer, though he is also questionable for the game.
The Dolphins will reveal their full list of inactives on Sunday morning, but it would not be shocking if Brewer is active. He has been one of the most durable players in the NFL, and he is likely going to push to make it on the field.
Dodson might also be a name to watch to see if he will be ruled out. He is currently dealing with a chest injury, but being upgraded to questionable could point to him being able to play against the Buccaneers.
Either way, the Dolphins have a big list of injuries, which is a common occurrence for most teams heading into the tail end of the regular season.
Though the Dolphins have been eliminated from playoff contention, they can still attempt to finish the season 8-9 with wins in their final two games agains the Buccaneers and the season finale against the New England Patriots.