Jordan Poyer With the 2024 NFL season set to kick off tomorrow, fans are eagerly anticipating the action. However, supporters of the Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars will have to wait until Sunday to see their teams clash in the opening Week 1 matchup.
A major storyline for the Miami Dolphins this offseason has been the impact of injuries on their roster, particularly affecting their wide receiver corps. Heading into their game against the Jaguars, Miami has only five wide receivers on their active roster, highlighting the depth issues they’ve faced.
The Dolphins’ first official injury report of the season reflects these challenges. A notable 25% of their roster is listed with some level of injury. Offensive tackle Terron Armstead and defensive tackle Calais Campbell are listed as non-participants due to “veteran rest” days. Linebacker Jaelan Phillips and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, however, are dealing with specific injuries—an Achilles issue for Phillips and a hamstring problem for Ramsey.
Additionally, the report details eight players who were “limited” participants in Wednesday’s practice: linebacker Quinton Bell (thumb), center Aaron Brewer (hand), cornerback Kendall Fuller (veteran rest), defensive tackle Benito Jones (knee), linebacker David Long (veteran rest), safety Jordan Poyer (thumb/veteran rest), linebacker Anthony Walker (knee/veteran rest), and wide receiver Malik Washington (quad).
The injury report also includes safety Jevon Holland, who was listed as a full participant despite an ankle issue. On a positive note, seven of the thirteen listed players were held out for veteran rest, with four of these having no other injury designations.
In contrast, the Jacksonville Jaguars have had a much smoother preseason in terms of health. Jacksonville enters the season with only one player on the injury report: safety Daniel Thomas. Thomas was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice due to an Achilles injury, marking a stark difference from the Dolphins’ more extensive injury concerns.
As both teams prepare for their Week 1 showdown, the contrasting health statuses of the Dolphins and Jaguars could play a significant role in the outcome of the game.