Dolphins injuries starting to pile up. Where things stand and who’s taking advantage

In what’s seemingly an annual tradition, training camp injuries are beginning to pile up for the Dolphins. Miami is hardly unique that way; injuries are an unavoidable part of the game.

And the good news is this: It could be a lot worse. No star player has sustained a serious injury through two weeks of Dolphins camp.

Where things stand at the affected positions:

CENTER

Starter Aaron Brewer left practice Wednesday, and trainers examined his right hand, which he uses to snap the ball. After spending several minutes inside the Baptist Health Center, he went back outside and watched Falcons receiver Rondale Moore being carted off with a leg injury.

Whether Brewer’s issue will sideline him just a few days, or potentially longer, must play out. But the maligned interior of the offensive line cannot realistically afford any serious injuries.

Liam Eichenberg is the best backup center on the roster, but he’s also needed as the starting right guard following Robert Hunt’s offseason departure to Carolina. So if Eichenberg needs to fill in for a time at center, that’s problematic, because one other right guard contender -- Jack Driscoll -- hasn’t necessarily seized his chance.

If Eichenberg must play center, Miami could turn to Lester Cotton at right guard; McDaniel said Wednesday that Cotton has been “phenomenal” during camp.

Driscoll has had snapping issues during his reps at center. Veteran journeyman Sean Harlow and UNLV undrafted rookie Andrew Meyer also can play center. Connor Williams, the Dolphins’ starting center last season before a December injury, signed with Seattle on Wednesday.

McDaniel said Eichenberg deserves a chance at one spot “to see where his technique can go. He hasn’t had that advantage necessarily the past two years.” But if Brewer misses time, Eichenberg might not have that luxury.

Meanwhile, left guard Isaiah Wynn remains on PUP, and unable to practice, as he continues recovering from last October’s quadriceps injury.

WIDE RECEIVER

The Dolphins practiced against the Falcons on Wednesday without six receivers - rookie Tahj Washington (who’s likely to miss the season), Odell Beckham Jr. (on the physically unable to perform list; hasn’t practiced all camp); Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, Erik Ezukanma and Anthony Schwartz.

Waddle and Berrios are nursing “minor” issues, McDaniel said.

“It’s unfortunate because the numbers are low,” River Cracraft said.

Down to just seven healthy receivers, the Dolphins signed former UM standout Mike Harley Jr. after working him out on Wednesday morning. Harley, who participated in Wednesday’s practice, is the Hurricanes’ all time leader in receptions with 188. He hasn’t played in an NFL game but has spent time with the Cleveland Browns after going undrafted in 2022.

With several veterans out, Cracraft and more recently, rookie Malik Washington, have seized on the opportunity.

Cracraft has caught everything in his vicinity during training camp and seems highly likely to make the 53-man roster.

Earlier in his career, “it has felt like the belief has all come from myself… [With the Dolphins recently], they have shown confidence back in me and that makes players better. That’s why I’m thinking I have had a little bit more success than I’ve had in the past.”

Would Cracraft like to enter a training camp knowing he has a job or does he like the motivation from being a bubble player?

“It’s important to not think that you’ve arrived,” he said. “And that’s the mentality I like to have… Nobody has said you’re making the team…. It’s important to keep that chip on your shoulder and act like you’ve got to earn a spot every single day.”

Washington, the rookie fifth round pick, has been very productive the past four practices after a slow start to camp. He made sizable gains on throws from Mike White and Skylar Thompson on Wednesday.

“There’s a ton of nuances within this offense you’ve got to be able to grasp,” Washington said. “It’s pretty hard. Braxton and River have helped me a lot.”

Washington is beginning to look like the player who led the FBS in receptions last season (110), to go along with 1,426 yards.

“What Malik has done very well is find how to be a professional very quickly,” McDaniel said.

At this point, Berrios and Cracraft are heavy favorites for the fourth and fifth jobs behind Tyreek Hill, Waddle and Beckham. And Washington seemingly has the inside track for the No. 6 job.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Though Jaelan Phillips is running well after last November’s Achilles injury, he remains on the PUP list and it’s unclear if he will play in the Sept. 8 opener against Jacksonville.

Bradley Chubb, who sustained a torn ACL on Dec. 31, usually doesn’t do his on-field work (unlike Phillips) when reporters are watching practice. His return isn’t considered imminent. He, too, remains on PUP.

Also, rookie fifth-round edge player Mo Kamara has missed two practices in a row. (And defensive tackle Benito Jones wasn’t spotted on Wednesday.)

INSIDE LINEBACKER

The good news is that starter Jordyn Brooks returned to practice on Tuesday after missing four sessions in a row. Also, starter David Long Jr. is pushing through a late July knee injury and playing very well in camp.

Anthony Walker, the former Browns starter, has missed five sessions in a row with an undisclosed injury.

SAFETY

Starter Jordan Poyer has missed six practices in a row after a strong start to camp. His wife, Rachel Bush, said Wednesday on X that Poyer has a thumb injury and it’s “not concerning at all. All Pro player going hard and showing that in practice, so of course, that’s bound to happen. Not to mention he finished the practice that day and still had a pick with the thumb the way it was.”

With Jevon Holland also missing practice Wednesday with an undisclosed injury, that meant plenty of reps for second-team safeties Marcus Maye and Elijah Campbell and Nik Needham, who is working as a safety and a slot cornerback.

CORNERBACK

The only one who has missed significant time is 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith, who missed more than a week with a lower body injury, returned Monday and left practice with another injury on Tuesday. He wasn’t seen on Wednesday.

In his absence, Kader Kohou and Ethan Bonner have staked a claim to the top backup boundary jobs behind Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller. Kohou is the first-team nickel cornerback.

Bonner “looks like more than [a guy that] can run, which he can,” Fuller said. “He looks like somebody that can set the edge, get a hat on the ball. To me, he looks like a complete football player.”

Of the three undrafted rookie corners, Jason Maitre has had a very good camp, and Storm Duck and Isaiah Johnson made sharp plays in coverage this week against Atlanta.