Two Starters Missing from Practice Wednesday

The Miami Dolphins began the week of preparation for Sunday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles without the journeyman offensive lineman who has held down the starting left tackle spot most of this season.

Kendall Lamm, who has filled in as Terron Armstead's replacement for five of the six games Miami has played in 2023, was held out of Wednesday practice, which begins the week of on-field preparation for the Eagles.

Whether Lamm, a eight-year veteran who has allowed one sack and committed zero penalties in his 311 offensive snaps, missed the practice because of an injury or was being given a veteran rest day, won't be clarified until the 4 p.m. practice report is produced.

O-line could be shifting

If he's unable to play Sunday, the Dolphins could be forced to start Kion Smith as his replacement. Smith, a former Fayetteville State standout, spent last season developing on Miami's practice squad, and made it onto the 53-man roster because of his training camp and exhibition season performance.

Miami also could use Isaiah Wynn, the team's starting left guard, or Liam Eichenberg, to play left tackle. Both have started multiple games at that position throughout their careers.

Lamm wasn't the only Dolphins starter who missed Wednesday's practice.

Eichenberg could remain starting center

Connor Williams, the Dolphins' starting center, hasn't been cleared to return to practice because of the groin injury he's been nursing for nearly a month. 

Williams missed his second game of the season last Sunday, and the Dolphins are committed to letting his groin injury heal so it won't impact his performance in the final months of the regular season, and the playoffs.

If Williams doesn't play this week Eichenberg likely would start his third game at center, unless he's needed at left tackle.

Last week Eichenberg redeemed himself by playing a solid game, making a significant improvement from his dismal performance in Miami's 48-20 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

According to Wynn, it’s Eichenberg’s leadership that has helped the offensive line settle in, becoming one of the NFL's top performing units this season.

“[He’s] getting us in the right position at the right time because a lot of times we get different things sometimes during the game that we may not have seen or we haven’t seen in a while,” Wynn said of Eichenberg. “His ability to put us in the right spot has been good.”

Two backs sidelined by injuries

Also held out of Wednesday practice were fullback Alec Ingold, who is nursing a foot injury, and rookie tailback Chris Brooks, who sustained an ankle injury in Sunday's win over the Panthers. Ingold sat out last Wednesday's practice and participated in the final two sessions that led into Sunday's game. It's possible he'll do the same this week.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel has insinuated that Brooks will be sidelined a couple of weeks, which raises the possibility that he'll be placed on injured reserve, opening the door for Jeff Wilson, who began the season on injured reserve because of a ribs injury, to take his roster spot.

Howard rests his groin strain

Cornerback Xavien Howard also sat out Wednesday's session because of a groin injury he aggravated in Miami's 42-21 win over the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. 

If Howard doesn't play this week the Dolphins would be forced to use Kader Kohou, Eli Apple, Parry Nickerson and Justin Bethel as the cornerbacks in the nickel and dime packages. 

The Dolphins also have rookie Cam Smith, the team's 2024 second-round pick, and Kelvin Joseph, whom Miami acquired in a trade that sent former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene to Dallas, but both youngsters have to earn that playing time and role in practice this week.

While Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey began practicing this week on the surgically repaired left knee, McDaniel already ruled him out for the Eagles game.