Wednesday Dolphins injury report is literal dream come true for Cowboys
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys need to wash their loss in Buffalo because they have another bear of a matchup in the 10-4 Miami Dolphins on Christmas Eve.
Many analysts believe the Dolphins are a worse matchup for the Cowboys than Buffalo on paper considering the speed Miami brings to the table on offense. Between Tyreek Hill, who's on pace for the first 2,000-yard season from a receiver in NFL history, Jaylen Waddle and running backs Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane, the Dolphins have track stars at every skill position.
If you take a step back, though, this is a mouthwatering matchup between two of the NFL's best teams. Little separates them in terms of talent and they both have a reputation of being unable to beat the league's elite squads.
In other words, the Cowboys will take any edge they can and the Dolphins happen to be navigating a cavalcade of injuries heading into Sunday.
Not spotted at Tuesday's practice? The entire starting offensive line, Tyreek Hill, Mostert, Achane as well as starting defensive backs Xavien Howard, Jevon Holland and Deshon Elliott.
Dolphins have a lot of injuries ahead of Sunday’s game vs. Cowboys.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 20, 2023
Not spotted at practice today: entire starting OL, Tyreek Hill, Xavien Howard, Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane.
Jevon Holland (knees) & DeShon Elliott (red jersey, final stages of concussion protocol) practiced. pic.twitter.com/adJUIgqaaI
Dolphins Week 14 injury report is a great sign for the Cowboys
It's only Wednesday, so make of that what you will, but this is still a big deal. It's worth noting Mostert is typically rested early in the week, a la Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith. Every other player, though, is seemingly a question mark for Sunday.
The most notable of the bunch is Tyreek Hill, who's a legitimate MVP candidate and might be the premier offensive weapon in football.
The Cowboys don't boast a ton of speed in their secondary, so it's anyone's guess how Dan Quinn is planning to limit Hill's impact. That's not to say Dallas should sleep on Waddle, who went for 142 yards and a TD last week without Hill, but Hill's presence opens up everything for Mike McDaniel. We'd be surprised if Hill's ankle kept him out of commission for a second straight week.
The Dolphins offensive line, meanwhile, has been a revolving door all season. They used their 10th different combination of starters vs the Jets last week. Already down starting center and former Cowboy Connor Williams, right tackle Austin Jackson sat out the second half of last week after aggravating an oblique injury
Correct: Raheem Mostert often gets vet rest day on Wednesday
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) December 20, 2023
Additionally, guard Liam Eichenburg, who's filled in at center in Williams' stead, has nursed a calf injury and was in a walking boot last week, and right guard Robert Hunt has missed a month with a hamstring.
Again, it's only Wednesday, but the Dolphins could start four backup OL on Sunday and be without the most dynamic offensive player in football. To say nothing of the uncertainty in their starting secondary.
No game is won via an injury report, but this undoubtedly sets the stage for the Cowboys to bounce back from last week in a positive way.
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