The Dolphins’ goal will be to get their team healthy so they can focus on maintaining their successful season. With the exception of developing running back De’Von Achane’s knee injury, the Miami Dolphins have avoided any major injuries this season. It can be especially upsetting this season when you have your hopes up and then the season goes apart due to a season-ending injury. As a Bengals fan, it is all too real for me, but fortunately for Miami, they haven’t lost any major talent to injury thus far.
Key Defensive Tackle ends up on Dolphins’ Injury Report
That is, until, perhaps, now. Christian Wilkins, the team’s star defensive tackle, was placed on the injured list on Friday with a groin injury. That could signify a variety of things, but it cannot be forgotten that a crucial defender on this defense has been listed as injured.
To be honest, it may be as easy as a teammate unintentionally bumping Wilkins in the groin, causing him to miss a few plays due to the pain. It could indicate a significant muscular injury, but considering that this is the only information available, Wilkins will most likely play against the Titans on Sunday.
If this turns out to be a more serious injury, Wilkins will be dearly missed on Miami’s defensive line. Wilkins has established himself as an exceptional 3-technique this season, getting to the quarterback 6.5 times and recording 25 tackles. That may not sound amazing, but it is a well acknowledged explanation that defensive tackles are relatively worthless. It is not their responsibility to bring down the running back; rather, it is their role to plug holes, stuff double teams, and compress running lanes, making it much simpler for the linebackers to close space.
The other side of the coin is that Miami is back in the game despite missing their top defensive lineman. When Derrick Henry forces his way through the A-gap on Sunday, Miami will be attempting to stop perhaps the most talented running back in the NFL. When playing against Henry, defensive tackle is by far the most essential position on the field since once he accelerates, he is extremely impossible to bring down without giving up at least 4 yards.
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