Dolphins Make Moves with Needham, Wynn

The Miami Dolphins now have two starting offensive linemen on injured reserve

Cornerback Nik Needham is back on the Miami Dolphins active roster, but another offensive lineman is out for at least four games.

The Dolphins announced two roster moves Tuesday, activating Needham off the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform list and placed guard Isaiah Wynn on injured reserve.

Wynn will be forced to miss at least four games after being put on IR, meaning he'll be eligible to return to practice the week of the game against the Washington Commanders on Dec. 3.

He becomes the second starting offensive lineman to go on IR, joining Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead, who was injured in the Week 4 game at Buffalo and will be eligible to return to practice next week.

With Wynn out of action, the Dolphins are likely to turn to Lester Cotton or Robert Jones as the starting left guard against New England on Sunday, though another possibility would be to return Liam Eichenberg to that position after he's become the backup center, starting two of the past three games at that spot in the absence of Connor Williams.

NEEDHAM BACK TO HELP SECONDARY

The move with Needham came as the Dolphins faced the deadline to decide whether to activate him or keep him on PUP the rest of the season, which would have made him ineligible to play for three in 2023.

Needham practiced the past three weeks but the move to activate him hadn't been made, with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio saying last week he had gotten very few reps on defense.

Needham joins a secondary that has injury issues of its own, the latest one being Jevon Holland going into concussion protocol as the result of his collision with linebacker David Long Jr. in the open field during the third quarter of the Week 7 Sunday night game against the Eagles.

Cornerback Xavien Howard missed that game because of a groin injury and his status for the game against New England is unknown. It's also possible the Dolphins could get three-time All-Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey back for that game.

Fangio indicated he saw Needham as a nickel or dime corner or a safety in his defense.

Given that he hasn't played since he sustained a torn Achilles tendon in the October game against the Minnesota Vikings last season, it's difficult to envision Needham being in line for a major role against New England on Sunday.

If Holland does have to miss the game, logic would seem to suggest that former starting Brandon Jones would get the nod — he was the one who came into the game against the Eagles for the four snaps Holland missed while he was getting checked out.