The Miami Dolphins got their latest wave of adversity this afternoon, as the team announced that it will be adding three players to the reserve/COVID-19 list — including a pair of important defensive starters ahead of Sunday’s Week 10 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. The team also announced the return of WR Lynn Bowden Jr. from the reserve/COVID-19 list; a bittersweet announcement that is paired with the following players going on the list for either close quarters contact with a positive test or, alternatively, a positive test themselves:
- LB Kyle Van Noy
- DT Christian Wilkins
- WR Matt Cole
We have activated WR Lynn Bowden Jr. off the reserve/COVID-19 list and placed WR Matt Cole, LB Kyle Van Noy and DT Christian Wilkins on the list.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) November 12, 2020
Assuming Miami’s talent is out for Sunday, expect the Dolphins’ personnel to change dramatically as a result and we may see the Dolphins implementing some fronts that they have not shown much of to this point in the season in order to best counter their losses for this week. Miami may call upon a 4-man front that features Shaq Lawson, Zach Sieler, Raekwon Davis and Emmanuel Ogbah and play more big-nickel packages to phase rookie safety Brandon Jones onto the field to play along the edges of the box.
Alternatively, Miami could simply charge Andrew Van Ginkel with stepping firmly into Van Noy’s role this week and press linebacker Sam Eguavoen with taking on a larger role. Miami’s ability to take these sudden change in stride may determine the team’s ability to win on Sunday against the Chargers — who have plenty of firepower offensively and will be a test for the Dolphins without two of their better players in the front seven.
Simultaneously, Brian Flores has proven to be effective in guiding the ship through chaos and crisis in the past — and Dolphins fans should expect more of the same. Whatever plan Flores cooks up to adjust may not be enough to win the football game, but the Dolphins will have the best chance possible to do so.
