Dolphins Sign OL To Fill Jones' Roster Spot
- To fill out their 53-man roster after Jason Jones‘ two-game suspension, the Dolphins claimed tackle Bryce Harris off waivers from the Jaguars, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports (on Twitter). Harris has appeared in 35 games, with the Saints and Falcons, since catching in with New Orleans as a UDFA in 2012. He did not play in a game for the Jags.
Dolphins’ Jason Jones Suspended Two Games
Winners of five straight, the Dolphins have emerged as a legitimate playoff contender. They will continue their postseason push in the short-term without Jason Jones, however, with the newly acquired defensive lineman being suspended for two games, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports (on Twitter).
Jones incurred this suspension for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy. Operating a vehicle while intoxicated led to this, the Herald’s Barry Jackson reports (on Twitter). He will be eligible to return to action Dec. 4 against the Ravens. Jones will not appeal the ban.
The Dolphins will have the opportunity to add a player to the 53-man roster, which they will do soon, per Salguero (via Twitter). Jones played in all 10 Dolphins games this season, his first with the team, and started five. He’s registered 2.5 sacks, 23 tackles and recovered a fumble.
Miami features a talented defensive line, with the presences of Ndamukong Suh, Jordan Phillips and Cameron Wake helping to stem the tide of losing Jones for two games. The 30-year-old defensive lineman had played in at least 15 games the previous two seasons.
Gase Credited For Dolphins' Turnaround
- The Dolphins have turned their season around in a big way, and Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports observes that first-year head coach Adam Gase is getting a great deal of credit both inside and outside the locker room. The players have responded to Gase’s no-nonsense, meritocratic approach, highlighted by his decision to release starting offensive linemen Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas, and his decision to leave Jay Ajayi home during the team’s Week 1 trip to Seattle (Ajayi’s subsequent breakout performance, of course, has been a big reason for Miami’s success). Gase has also stood steadfastly by quarterback Ryan Tannehill, which has done wonders for Tannehill’s confidence.
Dolphins’ Pouncey Likely To Return Next Week
SUNDAY, 9:38am: Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms (via Twitter) that the Dolphins do not believe Pouncey’s hip injury will be a long-term concern. The latest report that he should be ready to go next week still appears accurate.
SATURDAY, 8:48pm: Although Dolphins center Mike Pouncey will be forced to miss tomorrow’s game against the Rams while dealing with a hip issue, he should be able to return next week against the 49ers, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. However, Pouncey did meet with a specialist this week to go over his injury, per La Canfora.
[RELATED: Miami Dolphins Depth Chart]
Conflicting reports have emerged this week regarding the severity of Pouncey’s hip condition — while some sources have indicated that Miami is worried about Pouncey’s long-term health status, other reports have said the hip issue is not a career-threatening injury. La Canfora’s report doesn’t necessarily contradict either of those previous stories, and Pouncey’s play throughout the rest of the season will likely determine how the Dolphins handle his injury going forward.
Reserve interior lineman Anthony Steen will start tomorrow in Pouncey’s absence, and Miami also made a move to add center Jake Brendel from its practice squad, waiving veteran cornerback Chris Culliver in the process. The Dolphins’ offensive line has steadily improved this season and now ranks 10th in Football Outsiders‘ adjusted line yards, though it still places near the bottom of the league in pass protection. With Pouncey and left tackle Branden Albert both sidelined, the club’s front five could have its hands full against an excellent Rams defensive line on Sunday.
Dolphins Cut Chris Culliver
The Dolphins are in need of an emergency center after Mike Pouncey‘s hip trouble flared up again, and to make room for that replacement the team cut Chris Culliver, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.
Signed late in free agency despite coming off an ACL tear, Culliver began the season on the PUP list and did not return to form in the way the Dolphins hoped, Salguero notes. Miami promoted rookie UDFA center Jake Brendel from its practice squad. Pouncey is doubtful to play in Week 11 against the Rams.
Culliver’s endured a difficult stretch over the past year, with a 2015 suspension negating the guaranteed money in his Redskins-constructed contract and leading to a premature release from Washington. The separation was largely tied to the cornerback tearing his ACL last November, and it appears the sixth-year corner wasn’t sufficiently recovered from that setback to make an impact in Miami.
The Dolphins activated the 28-year-old corner two weeks ago but did not use him in a game, with Culliver’s surgically repaired knee not allowing him to go all out in practice, either, per Salguero. Initially part of the plan upon signing, Culliver’s PUP list trip did not generate the kind of recovery Fins coaches expected, and the past two weeks since his activation didn’t reveal a corner capable of contributing to a suddenly resurgent team on Sundays.
Culliver told reporters he planned to play against the Chargers last week, but Salguero reports Dolphins coaches had no intention of deploying him.
A full-time starter in 2014-15 with the 49ers and Redskins, Culliver will now enter into an uncertain phase in his career. Although he will venture onto the waiver wire due to late-season rules pushing cut players there at this juncture of the calendar, another team taking a chance on him now if he’s unable to practice at full speed seems unlikely.
Signed to a one-year Dolphins deal worth $3.75MM — $300K fully guaranteed — Culliver saw a four-year, $32MM Redskins accord fail to pan out. He played in just six games for Washington in 2015. Should he sign elsewhere if he clears waivers, Culliver will likely have to do so on a one-year deal to re-establish his value.
Andre Branch Wants To Re-Sign With Dolphins
- Andre Branch is enjoying a career resurgence with the Dolphins and he says he would like to continue in Miami beyond this year. “One hundred percent,” the pending free agent told Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald when asked if he wants to re-sign. “We got something going here, and it’s fun. I wake up every morning, and you have a reason to wake up. It’s not just, ‘I woke up to another one.’ The coaching staff brings energy each and every day. The players bring energy each and every day. And if anyone’s slacking, you’re going to know. I’m my biggest critic, and I never want to let my brothers or my coaches down. So for me, it’s starting to feel like family. It’s a lot of things that when you wake up, I haven’t felt in a very long time. So I’m happy here.” After playing out his one-year, $2.75MM deal, Branch will be seeking a pay bump and a longer commitment on his next deal. While there will be (presumably) mutual interest between him and the Dolphins, money may be a factor.
Dolphins Concerned About Mike Pouncey
The Dolphins are worried about Mike Pouncey‘s long-term health, according to Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link). Pouncey has had hip issues for the past two years and those troubles resurfaced this week. 
The standout center has missed time in each of the past four season with various injuries. With this particular issue, some within the organization believe that this is a degenerative issue, meaning that it could lead to the premature end of his career. The Dolphins do believe that he will play again this season, but it sounds like there are question marks about 2017 and beyond.
It should be noted that there are conflicting reports on Pouncey’s long-term status. Just yesterday, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reported that Pouncey’s hip injury is not a career-threatening situation. Still, Pouncey has undergone three hip surgeries since 2014 and it would be foolish to dismiss Cole’s report.
Pouncey, 27, has made the Pro Bowl as both a guard and center in recent years. The sixth-year pro graded as the league’s No. 11 center last year, according to Pro Football Focus’ metrics. This year, he is just the 29th ranked center, putting him ten spots behind his brother, Maurkice Pouncey.
Surgery For Branden Albert; Mike Pouncey Hurt
- Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert underwent left wrist surgery Thursday and is now week-to-week, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. Another integral Dolphins O-lineman – center Mike Pouncey – aggravated the hip injury that has kept him out of four games this year, putting his status in doubt, per Salguero. It’s not a career-threatening issue for Pouncey, who has undergone three hip surgeries since 2014, but it’s unknown how much time he’ll miss. The resurgent Dolphins, winners of four straight and owners of a 5-4 record, are likely to start Laremy Tunsil at left tackle and Anthony Steen at center against the Rams on Sunday.
Isaiah Pead Lost Part Of Leg
- On his WLW 700 radio show, Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said former Dolphins running back Isaiah Pead “lost part of his left leg” in last weekend’s car accident, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. Rams coach Jeff Fisher told reporters earlier this week that Pead’s football career is definitely over and we now know why. Our thoughts and prayers are with Pead and his family.
Latest On Branden Albert
- The Dolphins confirmed that tackle Branden Albert is not playing against Los Angeles on Sunday, Armando Salguero of The Miami Herald tweets. Miami is reportedly concerned about Albert’s wrist for the long term and his status going forward is unclear. Albert played in nine games in 2014 but mostly stayed healthy last year as he played 14 games and earned a Pro Bowl nod.