PLAYER NOTES
–S Reshad Jones, who has two interceptions in two games, missed the past two games due to a shoulder injury. But he appears poised to return against the Bengals and practiced in full on Wednesday.
–C Daniel Kilgore was placed on injured reserve and has been lost for the season. Acquired in a March trade with the San Francisco 49ers, Kilgore started all four of Miami’s games this season until he suffered a triceps injury against the Patriots.
–C Wesley Johnson was signed to give the team depth on the offensive line. The signing was needed after center Daniel Kilgore was lost for the season due to a triceps injury.
–DE Cameron Malveaux was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.
–DE Cam Wake missed Wednesday’s practice due to a knee injury. Wake, Miami’s best pass rusher, is a key player given Miami’s injury and depth issues on the defensive line with William Hayes and Andre Branch hurt and Jordan Phillips released.
–WR DeVante Parker, who has played just one game this season, is injured yet again. He started the season with a finger injury. On Wednesday, he was limited in practice due to a quadriceps injury.
PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Dolphins WR Kenny Stills entered the NFL as an afterthought – a fifth-round pick in 2013. But he has evolved – at age 26 – as one of the more underrated receivers in the NFL. His career 16.3 average per reception ranks second in the NFL among active players, behind DeSean Jackson. Stills also has 29 touchdown catches in six years, and he is the receiver every opponent must worry about — above all others — when teams play the Dolphins.
GAME PLAN: The Dolphins will be running into a hot offense that ranks fourth in the NFL with 31.5 points per game. Miami ranks 14th in the league in points allowed (22.5), 20th in rushing yards allowed (110.5) and 26th in passing yards allowed (284.8). The Bengals offer an opportunity for Miami’s defense to prove itself, but it won’t be easy to contain quarterback Andy Dalton, running back Gio Bernard and wide receivers A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd.
On offense, Miami quarterback Ryan Tannehill needs to bounce back after a 38-7 loss to New England last week. Tannehill was held to 100 yards and no touchdowns with one interception. But there was enough blame to go around as the offensive line got whipped, and the running game was held to 56 yards on 18 carries.
MATCHUPS TO WATCH
–Dolphins LG Ted Larsen, C Travis Swanson and RG Jesse Davis vs. Bengals DT Geno Atkins. Dolphins starting C Daniel Kilgore is out for the year after suffering a triceps injury last Sunday. Two weeks ago, the Dolphins lost starting G Josh Sitton for the season due to a rotator-cuff injury. Miami’s remade offensive line, especially in those three interior positions, figures to be vulnerable against Atkins, a six-time Pro Bowl player. Atkins had a sack and two tackles for losses last Sunday, and he and NT Andrew Billings combined for eight tackles.
–Dolphins CB Xavien Howard vs. Bengals WR A.J. Green. Howard had three interceptions and four passes defensed in Miami’s first three games this season, stamping himself as one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks. However, Howard had no picks or passes defensed last week against New England, and he also got beat for a touchdown by Phillip Dorsett. Meanwhile, Green had four catches for 78 yards and one TD last week in a 37-36 win over the Falcons. A seven-time Pro Bowl selection, Green, 30, has five TD catches in four games this season.
