Needham ready to begin practicing after Achilles. And McDaniel updates Dolphins injuries
Two Dolphins who missed the first four games of the season returned to practice Wednesday.
Cornerback Nik Needham and guard Robert Jones participated in on-field work, triggering a 21-day clock. After that three-week period, Needham and Jones must either be placed on the 53-man roster or otherwise be ruled out for the season.
Needham, who sustained a torn Achilles injury in a game against Minnesota last October, began training camp on the physically unable to perform list and has remained there since. Before Wednesday, he hadn’t practiced since the injury.
Jones has been sidelined with a knee injury sustained in preseason. Because he spent four weeks on injured reserve, he’s now eligible to return.
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who has been dealing with two injuries, is not cleared to start practicing and remains on injured reserve, coach Mike McDaniel said.
“We’re working our way with Jeff; feel good about that,” McDaniel said.
Once he practices, his 21-day window also would begin.
Wilson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on his weekly Fox 7 segment Sunday that Wilson is healthy and ready to return.
Meanwhile, safety DeShon Elliott — who missed Sunday’s game with two injuries — will practice Wednesday, McDaniel said.
“I’m proud of him,” McDaniel said. “Had a talk with him, reinforcing the team needs you to not rush the process out of competitiveness. He understood that. He feels solid.”
Linebacker Jaelan Phillips missed the Buffalo game with an oblique injury, and McDaniel was noncommittal about his availability for the Giants game.
“He’s trending in the right direction,” McDaniel said. “Don’t know exactly when that will be. I’m hopeful. I know he’s progressing. The last thing we want is for one of the guys we count on to produce to have that lingering issue all season. It’s a fine balance.”
Center Connor Williams — who missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury — will practice this week. Rosenhaus has said he will be ready to play this week or Oct. 15 against Carolina.
As for left tackle Terron Armstead, he remains out indefinitely with a knee injury, but McDaniel said the team hasn’t decided whether to place him on injured reserve, which would sideline him at least four weeks.
McDaniel has said Armstead’s absence will be measured in weeks, not days, but he’s not out for the season. He’s definitely out Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins continue to explore the neck injury that has sidelined receiver Erik Ezukanma, an injury the team believes he initially sustained well over a year ago at Texas Tech.
McDaniel said he does not believe that Ezukanma will be out for the season but “I don’t know the timeline. We’re steadily getting to the bottom” of it.
Ezukanma is on the non-football injury list and must miss at least three more games.
McDaniel addressed other issues during his Wednesday media briefing, as Miami prepares for Sunday’s home game against the Giants (1 p.m., Fox):
▪ Though the Giants permitted 11 sacks in Monday’s loss against Seattle, McDaniel said “I see an offense that’s close. It felt like it was a completion or sack [for Daniel Jones and the offense]. His completion percentage was high” though Jones threw two interceptions as well.
▪ Asked if there’s a such thing as a ‘get right game’ in the NFL, McDaniel said: “There is no such thing as scheduling out wins or checking off boxes.”
