MIAMI GARDENS — Two Miami Dolphins starters who were injured in Sunday’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts, right guard James Daniels and cornerback Storm Duck, will miss additional time with their respective injuries.
Daniels hurt his right pectoral muscle on the Dolphins’ third offensive play at Lucas Oil Stadium and did not return.
“It’s not season-ending,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. “He won’t be available this week. It’ll be a couple of weeks, and we’re evaluating the timeline and if there’s any roster management.”
The “couple of weeks” would have Daniels miss next Sunday’s home opener against the New England Patriots and then the quick turnaround for the following Thursday night, Sept. 18, at the Buffalo Bills.
The “roster management” portion of McDaniel’s assessment means a potential injured reserve stint could be in play for Daniels, who would have to miss at least four games if placed on IR.
Daniels entered Sunday questionable with an ankle ailment sustained during the week of practice before then injuring the chest muscle. He was signed by the Dolphins in free agency this offseason despite rehabbing a torn Achilles on the opposite leg suffered four weeks into his 2024 campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Daniels out, the Dolphins had Kion Smith sub in at right guard for the rest of the game. McDaniel said Smith played well but left ample room for improvement.
Duck “will also be a couple of weeks,” according to McDaniel.
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He had bodies land on his left leg while making a tackle in the first half Sunday, putting his ankle in a compromising position.
Veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas, who signed with the Dolphins two weeks ago, filled in and played well, nearly intercepting one pass that went for a pass breakup.
Duck entered the 2025 season set for a key role as a starting cornerback in his second season after making the team as an undrafted rookie last year.
Dolphins right tackle Austin Jackson aggravated a toe injury that kept him out much of training camp late in Sunday’s game. McDaniel said the team still needs more time to evaluate the toe.
Backup tackle Larry Borom entered for Jackson for the final 10 offensive snaps Sunday. Smith and Borom could form the Dolphins’ starting right side of the offensive line in Week 2 against the Patriots.
Nose tackle Benito Jones is “in a week-to-week category,” McDaniel said after the hefty defensive lineman tweaked an oblique Sunday.
“I wouldn’t rule him totally out for this game, but I wouldn’t rule him in either,” the Dolphins coach said.
No Dolphins player landed in concussion protocol on Monday as a residual of Sunday’s action. That alleviates any concern of potential day-after symptoms for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa after he took a few hard hits against the Colts. Following the Dec. 25, 2022 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Tagovailoa finished the game but was placed in concussion protocol the next day.
This story will be updated.
