Dolphins forced to finish game without two cornerbacks

In the span of three games one of the Miami Dolphins’ deepest positions has become the thinnest.

Cornerback Kendall Fuller left Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks because it was ruled that he suffered a concussion during the first half.

Fuller, a eight-year veteran the Dolphins added as a free agent this offseason, was the starter opposite Jalen Ramsey on the boundary.

He’s a vital part of the Dolphins defense, and so didn’t help that his replacement, undrafted rookie Storm Duck, sustained a shoulder injury in the third quarter, and did not return to the game,

Siran Neal replaced Fuller ans Duck as the cornerback placed on the boundary opposite Ramsey, Miami’s Pro Bowl corneback.

That means the Dolphins finished Sunday’s game against the Seahawks with three healthy cornerbacks in Ramsey, Kader Kohou, who primarily works in the nickel, and Neal, who is mainly viewed as a special teams ace. Ethan Bonner was not made active for the game, and Cam Smith began the 2024 season on injured reserve because of calf injury he’s been nursing since training camp.

In a pinch the Dolphins could have used safeties Elijah Campbell and Jevon Holland in cornerback roles since Campbell began his NFL career as cornerback before transitioning to safety, and Holland has worked as a nickel cornerback from time to time.

Fuller being in the concussion protocol means he’s subjected to a three stage protocol program that will determine when, and if he’s allowed to resume practicing and playing.

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who suffered a concussion in last week’s 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, is in the same program, but the Dolphins decided to place him on injured reserve this past week, which means he’ll have to sit out four games.

It’s uncertain, but unlikely that Miami will take a similar approach with Fuller because he doesn’t play a high profile position, and concussions haven’t been something that has plagued him throughout his career.

As for Duck, who was one of training camp’s pleasant surprises, it’s possible that the should injury could land him on injured reserve, but it depends on the severity of the injury.

Smith won’t be eligible to return from injured reserve until after next week’s Monday night game against the Tennessee Titans, so that likely means Bonner will be potentially active for his first regular season game of 2024, and Miami might be forced to elevate defensive back Nik Needham and Isaiah Johnson up from the practice squad.