MIAMI GARDENS, Florida – The Miami Dolphins will be without their top three receivers: DeVante Parker (hamstring), Mike Gesicki (shoulder) and Jakeem Grant (hamstring) – Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Tua Tagovailoa will lead a very young receiver body made up of rookies Lynn Bowden Jr. and Malcolm Perry, featured special teams Mack Hollins, veteran Isaiah Ford, who had just signed and was promoted from the training squad, and Antonio Callaway.
Parker is the most surprising absence, as until Saturday night there was a great deal of confidence that he would be able to play with what was described as a minor strain of hamstrings. It’s unclear if a mishap or change occurred, but Parker will miss his first game of the season.
Parker, Gesicki and Grant combined 1,609 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns this season, more than half of the Dolphins ’total assignment in both categories. This means a big loss of production in a very important game for the 8-5 Dolphins, who are trying to keep their place in the playoff image.
The Dolphins will also be left without Ereck Flowers left guard for the second week in a row with a high ankle sprain. Veteran Jesse Davis will start with him.
Sunday morning was good news for the Dolphins, as runner Salvon Ahmed, safety Bobby McCain and defenders Kyle Van Noy, Elandon Roberts and Jerome Baker are active despite being questioned with injuries.
Ahmed, returning after losing the last three games with a shoulder injury. Matt Breida is also back in action after losing the last two games due to backup protocols / COVID-19. Both are expected to occupy a large part of the Dolphins ’bottom field, with Myles Gaskin currently on the reserve list / COVID-19 and unable to play.