The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns are closing in on kickoff for their Week 7 meeting. One of the final steps for each team around the league is to announce their respective inactive players lists, bringing their 53-man active roster down to the 48-man gameday limit exercised by the league. Included in that limit are any players who were elevated from the practice squad for the game, with each tame allowed to bring up two practice squad members to join the team in the game each week.
For the Dolphins, they chose to elevate two players, linebacker Quinton Bell and cornerback Kendall Sheffield. The Browns did not elevate any players.
The news of the day, at least pre-game, came with a change to the Dolphins’ quarterback depth chart. Zach Wilson was listed on the inactive players list, with the team designating him as the emergency third quarterback, clearing him to play if the two quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart are injured during the game. But it is the first time Wilson has fallen to third on the depth chart, with rookie Quinn Ewers sliding ahead of him into the second position.
Starter Tua Tagoavailoa remains the top option.
Also inactive for Miami are linebacker Matthew Judon, wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, Jr., defensive back Elijah Campbell, cornerback Storm Duck, wide receiver Tahj Washington, and defensive tackle Zeek Biggers.
Campbell had been ruled out with a quadriceps injury on Friday while Duck was questionable with an ankle injury.
Weather during the game is expected to be rainy with high winds, indicating the run game could be a major factor on Sunday. After two weeks of being a healthy scratch, running back Jaylen Wright is active today, indicating Miami may be planning for a heavy day on the ground, led by running backs De’Von Achane and rookie Ollie Gordon II, with Wright providing depth.
Judon landing on the inactive list is a surprise. The veteran pass rusher has been active all season, but he has not been as effective as the Dolphins hoped. Miami could be looking at the likelihood of a run-heavy game, or they could be looking to Bell to play more of a defensive role. It could also be a sign that the Dolphins are considering trading Judon and would rather protect him from injury on Sunday in a bad-weather game.
With no practice squad elevations, the Browns only needed to list five players as inactive. Cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse, running back Raheim Sanders, defensive tackle Mike Hall, Jr., tackle Jack Conklin, and tight end David Njoku will all be on the sidelines throughout the game. Njoku had been ruled out of the game with an ankle injury while Hall was questionable with a knee injury. Conklin was also questionable as he returns from a concussion.
Kickoff is at...
