MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins won’t have cornerback Rasul Douglas, tight end Julian Hill and safety Ashtyn Davis in Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills.
Douglas, Hill and Davis were announced as inactive players 90 minutes prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium. Douglas was doubtful to play with foot and ankle injuries. Hill (ankle) and Davis (quadriceps) were questionable to play.
Also entering Sunday questionable were running back Ollie Gordon II (ankle) and safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (thumb/foot), but both are active against Buffalo.
In Douglas, the Dolphins will be down a reliable starting cornerback. Jack Jones should start on one side and either Ethan Bonner or rookie Jason Marshall Jr., who has primarily covered the slot in the nickel for the team, are candidates to start on Douglas’ side.
Miami already had outside linebacker Chop Robinson ruled out Saturday as he recovers from a concussion, for another big hole on the defense after Jaelan Phillips was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Without Hill, who missed a third consecutive game, the Dolphins have two active tight ends, Greg Dulcich and Hayden Rucci, who was signed to the active roster from the practice squad Saturday.
While the Dolphins have two active tight ends, they can also use backup offensive lineman Daniel Brunskill there in jumbo packages.
Miami is able to withstand the absence of Davis with rookie Dante Trader able to play safety, along with Melifonwu and special teams ace Elijah Campbell, opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick, who also may play in the nickel.
The Dolphins have running back Jaylen Wright, who has been inactive five games and didn’t play a snap in two other games, active Sunday as a third back with Gordon banged up.
Healthy inactives for the Dolphins were outside linebacker Andre Carter and quarterback Quinn Ewers, who is available as an emergency third quarterback.
The Bills had wide receiver Joshua Palmer, cornerbacks Taron Johnson and Christian Benford ruled out after entering questionable.
This story will be updated.
