Breaking Down the Week 8 Dolphins-Patriots Inactive Info

The Miami Dolphins will have one of their star cornerbacks available, but not both

Alain Poupart | Oct 29, 2023

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Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins will have one of their star cornerbacks available against the New England Patriots, but not both.

On the day Jalen Ramsey makes his long-awaited Dolphins debut, Xavien Howard will be inactive for a second consecutive game because of the groin injury he sustained in the Week 6 victory against the Carolina Panthers.

Howard will be one of two starting defensive backs inactive along with safety Jevon Holland, who was downgraded to out Saturday after spending the week in the concussion protocol. Fourth-year player Brandon Jones is expected to start at safety in Holland's place, while logic would suggest that Ramsey will take Howard's spot in the starting lineup at cornerback.

The Dolphins also will have cornerback Nik Needham in the lineup for the first time since he sustained an Achilles injury more than a year ago. His role is uncertain.

Also inactive for this Week 8 matchup against New England will be WR Robbie Chosen and DT Brandon Pili, with Skyar Thompson again serving as the emergency third quarterback.

The game will mark the return of Connor Williams, who has missed the past two games and three of the past four because of a groin injury, but whether he starts remains to be seen based on head coach Mike McDaniel's comments Friday.

Running backs Raheem Mostert (ankle) and Alec Ingold (foot) both will be active after being listed as questionable Friday.

NEW ENGLAND INACTIVE INFO

The Patriots inactives include the three players that already had been ruled out, but nobody else of note.

OLB Josh Uche and T Vederian Lowe were downgraded to out Saturday, and tackle Calvin Anderson was ruled out Friday, and they will be joined on the inactive list by WR Tyquan Thornton and WR Kayshon Boutte, with Will Grier serving as the emergency third quarterback.

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Published Oct 29, 2023

ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.