Daniel Thomas likely out for the season
Miami Dolphins running back Daniel Thomas (33) takes a hand off from quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) in the first quarter of a game against the Buffalo Bills at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Dolphins No. 2 running back Daniel Thomas suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter of yesterday’s narrow defeat to the Carolina Panthers, and the injury didn’t look good at first glance. Now, the injury looks even worse.
It was initially reported that Thomas was spotted with a walking boot and on crutches following the game, and he exited the game with the ankle injury via a cart. That’s never a good sign, and the reports that he was in crutches and a walking boot only made the prognosis worse. There was always a fear that Thomas would be out for the season, but that was viewed as the worst-case scenario.
Well, it looks like the worst has unfolded for Thomas, as the South Florida Sun-Sentinel’s Omar Kelly reports that Daniel Thomas is “likely” out for the remainder of the season with a torn ligament in his left ankle. The only bit of good news is the fact that a source tells Kelly that Thomas will not need to undergo surgery, though that’s not significantly good news.
It’s a tough blow for the Dolphins offense as they look to secure the final playoff seed in the AFC, and the rushing offense has been a huge weakness for the Dolphins this season. Lamar Miller is unquestionably the Dolphins most talented running back- even if the Dolphins are unwisely unwilling to treat him as that feature back- but it’s always best to have more depth at running back. Besides, it’s not like Miller has been lighting the world on fire this season either, though the vast majority of the Dolphins struggles on the ground can be pinned on a horrible offensive line.
The Dolphins offensive line was poor at run blocking to begin the season, but the blocking up front has deteriorated into a JV-level farce following the Incognito-Martin episode and a gallbladder issue that is ailing star center Mike Pouncey. This team desperately needs Pouncey to come back, but even that won’t be enough to help out Miller and kick-start the Dolphins rushing attack. And with Thomas now likely out for the remainder of the season, things have just gone from bad to worse for the Dolphins, thus putting more on Ryan Tannehill’s plate.