Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses Mostert injury, other issues in Friday media briefing
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel confirmed that Raheem Mostert’s knee injury has left his status in question for Sunday’s game against Houston (1 p.m., CBS).
[UPDATE: Mostert, in the 4 p.m. Friday final injury report, was listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game.]
“It’s something he’s working through,” McDaniel said Friday morning. “I would never completely rule Raheem out but [it’s an] uphill battle [for Sunday]. .. If he doesn’t [play Sunday], hell be close. We’ll have to do the smart thing. I’m not willing to bet against that guy but we’re having to be very mindful to protect him from himself.”
Jeff Wilson Jr. likely would start if Mostert cannot play. Wilson has averaged 6.5 yards per rush on 26 carries since the Dolphins acquired him from San Francisco.
Myles Gaskin, who has four carries for nine yards this season, would be in line to get work if Mostert is sidelined; Gaskin has played in only two games this season after starting 10 games last season.
Gaskin has played only 13 snaps on offense and five on special teams this year, per profootballreference.com.
Salvon Ahmed also could figure into the plans on Sunday if Mostert is out; he has four carries for 13 yards this season. Ahmed has logged 10 snaps on offense and 24 on special teams this season.
Ahmed has appeared in more games than Gaskin (seven to two) because Ahmed is used more on special teams.
Gaskin has averaged 3.8 yards per attempt on 355 carries in four seasons with the Dolphins and has 100 catches for 697 yards.
Ahmed has averaged 3.6 yards on 133 carries in three seasons with the Dolphins and has 23 catches for 178 yards.
“It’s important you give guys opportunities,” McDaniel said when asked about potentially needing Gaskin and Ahmed on Sunday. “If it plays out that way - assuming Raheem is down, which are things not known to be fact - in that event, they both get opportunities.
“Myles Gaskin has been doing some really good stuff as one of those core character people in your locker room doing things the right way. The whole team really gets behind him. Both those guys have done a really good job giving us versatility. Very confident in [Ahmed] as well. Those who make the best of their opportunities get more opportunities.”
Mostert is the Dolphins’ leading rusher, with 543 yards on 4.6 per carry. He has started 8 of the Dolphins’ 10 games.
Meanwhile, McDaniel said he “feels good about” left tackle Terron Armstead and punter Thomas Morstead playing on Sunday.
Armstead continues to nurse a toe injury, which has limited his practice time for two months. Morstead missed the Wednesday and Thursday practices with an illness.
▪ As for linebacker Jerome Baker, who was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a hip injury, McDaniel said he feels pretty good about his availability for Sunday “but that doesn’t mean something can’t change. I really like him as a person and he’s a big contributor to our team.
“So having not been a Miami Dolphin coach and not had his availability, it’s kind of unchartered territory for me. I feel optimistic.”
[UPDATE: Baker, Armstead and Morstead were not given designations on the 4 p.m. Friday injury report and are good to go for Sunday.]
PRACTICE UPDATE
Mostert, Armstead, Morstead and Baker were all at practice Friday, dressed in uniform.
