The Miami Dolphins, plagued by injuries for much of the first half of the season, will likely be without their most exciting playmaker for an indefinite period.
Wide receiver Albert Wilson, whose explosive play has been a bright spot in Miami’s 4-3 start, suffered a right hip/leg injury during the Dolphins’ 32-21 loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Wilson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told WSVN following the game his client will undergo an MRI for the injury.
The Dolphins, already playing without starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill (shoulder), will have to rely on their next-man-up mentality in Thursday’s Week 8 game against the Texans in Houston.
The Dolphins may have to play without Wilson, while receiver Kenny Stills, tight end Mike Gesicki and left guard Ted Larsen also suffered injuries during the game that could hinder their availability on a short week.
We’ll find out who is available,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said after the game. “Once we know who is available, we just have to figure out who we are going to have personnel-group wise on that side of the ball.”
Wilson caught a 25-yard reception from quarterback Brock Osweiler in the second quarter, and was tripped up by a Lions defender, causing Wilson’s right leg to hyperextend.
After spending some time lying on the field, Wilson gingerly walked to the sideline.
He was examined in the injury tent, before gradually limping from the Dolphins sideline into the locker room, biting onto a towel in pain.
“When he didn’t get back up, I just knew he wasn’t going to come back,” receiver Jakeem Grant said of Wilson, who leads the Dolphins with 391 receiving yards with four touchdowns.
After Wilson left the game, the Dolphins’ game plan was undoubtedly altered.
During the first quarter, the Dolphins lined Wilson up out of the slot as a running back. He caught a third down pitch from Osweiler and turned it into a 5-yard run and first down.
Wilson was also tripped up on a short pass behind the line of scrimmage that could have went for long yardage like he did against the Chicago Bears, turning two plays into 43- and 75-yard touchdowns last week.
“His personality definitely sparks this offense. His play also speaks for itself,” running back Kenyan Drake said of Wilson. “We wish him nothing but the best.”
Stills was injured twice during the game, his first injury coming on an odd instance in the second quarter.
Stills caught a 5-yard touchdown pass from Osweiler near the back of the end zone, and was pushed by Lions defensive back Darius Slay into a Hard Rock Stadium worker on the sidelines.
Stills injured his shoulder, while the woman was also treated for a shoulder injury and sent to a hospital as a precaution.
With a minute left in the game, Stills limped off the field into the locker room with a lower leg injury.
Without Wilson and Stills, the Dolphins used Drake as a slot receiver with Grant and Danny Amendola left to finish the game. Before the contest, the Dolphins listed DeVante Parker inactive.
“We were kinda just drawing up plays in the sand because we had only two receivers up. I had to go into the slot, and just make with what was due,” Drake said. “That’s just the mentality of this team — next man up even, if it’s out of position.”
Gesicki, who finished with three catches for 44 yards, was evaluated for a concussion after colliding with a defender following an 18-yard reception. He later returned to the game.
Starting left guard Ted Larsen left the game with a right leg injury, but later returned. He was temporarily replaced by new reserve lineman Wesley Johnson.
The Dolphins offense was already without tight end MarQueis Gray (Achilles), center Daniel Kilgore (torn triceps) and left guard Josh Sitton (shoulder), who are all done for the season.
Now, Miami has to navigate a number of injuries to key offensive contributors at an inopportune stretch of two games in five days.
“We’re trying to put points on the board and sustain the game in any way possible, but it’s just hard when you have this many injuries,” Drake said. “Now we have to look forward to next week, and getting as healthy as possible for Houston.”
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