The Miami Dolphins’ roster moves Saturday serve as a positive sign for center Aaron Brewer’s status Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Dolphins elevated outside linebacker Quinton Bell and cornerback Isaiah Johnson from the practice squad to the game-day roster, the team announced Saturday.
Miami did not elevate nor sign an offensive lineman, which has Brewer’s availability trending up as he enters questionable with a pectoral injury.
The Dolphins have eight offensive linemen on the roster, and league rules only allow teams to have 48 players active on game day if they have eight offensive linemen active. If Brewer can’t play, Miami would have to make it through Sunday with 47 players, which is an unlikely concession to make.
Brewer surfaced on the team’s injury report this week due to the ailing chest muscle. He was a limited participant in all three of the practices before facing the Chargers.
If Brewer weren’t to play, Daniel Brunskill likely replaces him as a backup center.
The Dolphins already ruled out linebacker Tyrel Dodson (concussion) and defensive back Elijah Campbell (quadriceps) on Friday.
Along with Brewer, cornerback Storm Duck (ankle) enters Sunday questionable.
The elevation of Johnson gives Miami another cornerback at an already-thin group, where nickel cornerback Cornell Armstrong was placed on injured reserve earlier in the week and then released from IR Friday.
Bell has been a core special teams contributor in the past when he was on the active roster last season. He could help special teams units without Campbell, albeit not at Campbell’s key gunner role on punt coverage.
The Chargers, on Saturday, placed former Dolphins defensive tackle Da’Shawn Hand on IR with his groin injury. That could have compensatory pick implications on Miami after losing him in free agency this past offseason.
Los Angeles, with multiple offensive tackles and running backs out, signed tackle Bobby Hart and elevated running back Nyheim Hines and tackle David Sharpe on Saturday.
