MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold spends loads of time within the coaching room these days. Calf and ankle accidents have meant he’s been spending additional time on the facility for weeks.
“The trainers and I are on a primary title foundation,” he quipped.
Name it The Grind.
It’s Week 18 of the NFL season, a time of yr when guys are so banged up they’re being held collectively by duct tape and bailing wire.
The Dolphins (8-8), bruised and battle-weary from the grind of the eight months of physicality and scrutiny, will limp into chilly MetLife Stadium on Sunday trying to defeat the New York Jets (4-12) of their regular-season finale, and get a little bit assist from Kansas Metropolis defeating Denver on the similar time. That will earn them their third consecutive wild-card spherical playoff look.
The Dolphins can be with out quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (hip) for the second consecutive week. He vows he’ll play if the Dolphins make the playoffs.
“There’s no ‘ifs,’ ‘ands’ or ‘buts’ allowed,” Tagovailoa declared Friday. “I’ll be taking part in. That’s for positive.”
The Dolphins, powered by their playoff hopes, have summoned sufficient energy to win six of their previous eight video games.
They’re hoping they will make it seven wins in 9 video games.
But it surely hasn’t been straightforward getting so far.
Knees are swollen and achy. Backs have bulging discs. Ribs are bruised.
Hips have muscular illnesses. All the things hurts on each participant.
They’re not on the lookout for sympathy or empathy. That is their job.
And to a sure extent, Week 18 is about going past your job description.
“On this time, you actually get a way of individuals’s real love for soccer and workforce,” coach Mike McDaniel mentioned, “since you actually at this level, to repeatedly be capable to produce and make investments, it takes extra time to recuperate from a sport, extra funding.”
Time, most lately within the type of the 2024 season, has taken a toll on the 30-somethings.
Proper sort out Kendall Lamm, the 33-year-old 10-year veteran, was positioned on injured reserve this previous week with a again damage. He mentioned on Instagram it’s a bulging disc.
Left sort out Terron Armstead, the 32-year-old 12-year veteran, may not play as a consequence of a proper knee damage. He’s missed two of the previous 4 video games. He’ll give it a attempt Sunday. However getting ready for video games has been tough for weeks.
“It’s been a grind, actually, simply the complete time,” he mentioned.
Trying forward, sure, this might be the ultimate sport for a number of the Dolphins’ 30-somethings.
Working again Raheem Mostert mentioned he’s positively taking part in subsequent season. He mentioned he feels properly sufficient bodily. Plus, he added, he’s beneath contract.
Defensive sort out Calais Campbell mentioned it’s too early to decide on taking part in subsequent season.
Armstead mentioned the identical factor about taking part in subsequent season, including it’ll take a number of weeks to make such a call.
Poyer, who’s 33 years outdated, didn’t observe Wednesday or Thursday as a consequence of finger and knee accidents. He practiced Friday, and he’ll play Sunday. It’ll imply rather a lot to him to take the sphere.
“I like this sport, my teammates, and I’m clearly taking part in for my household,” Poyer mentioned. “It’s a sport I grew up loving. And who is aware of if this can be my final evening this weekend.
“So for me personally, simply with the ability to go and luxuriate in every second.”
The brutal nature of the game has taken a toll on the others, not simply the older guys.
No person escapes its wrath.
Punter Jake Bailey was on the damage report this previous week with a again ailment.
“Loads of psychological toughness comes into this time of yr,” Poyer mentioned.
Dolphins quarterback Tyler “Snoop” Huntley (22 of 26, 225 yards, one landing) had success with vast receiver Tyreek Hill (9 receptions, 105 yards) in final week’s 20-3 win at Cleveland.
However a few of that was because of the Browns taking part in eight-man fronts to cease the Dolphins’ run sport, which meant Hill was in one-on-one protection versus the two-high security seems he’s seen many of the season.
The Jets, in line with their model, usually tend to play the two-high security look, which might imply Huntley seems extra to tight finish Jonnu Smith than Hill.
Regardless of the scenario, the Dolphins should get their protection to choke the life out of the Jets foursome of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, working again Breece Corridor and vast receivers Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson.
If the Dolphins can merely keep within the sport they’ve kicker Jason Sanders, who has made 24 consecutive discipline targets, together with 9 consecutive of fifty or extra yards.
Oh, yeah, he’s kicked the Dolphins into the playoffs the previous two years with 5 discipline targets in final season’s 22-20 win over Dallas, and three discipline targets in an 11-6 win over the Jets in 2022.
Sanders takes delight in that trait.
“For them to have the ability to lean on you and also you come by way of like that, that’s what workforce sports activities are about,” he mentioned.
If the Dolphins can by some means discover the energy and fortitude to beat again the grind of the season, defeat the Jets and have Denver lose to Kansas Metropolis, they’ll be within the playoffs once more, and be on their manner as much as Buffalo for a wild-card sport once more.
It’d be an enormous badge of honor for each participant who’ll put on a uniform on Sunday.
“It’s positively an extended season, and I like guys that push by way of stuff to provide the workforce all they bought,” mentioned edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah, a nine-year veteran, “Typically it’s out of their fingers. However I like guys that need to push by way of issues simply to assist the workforce win.”
Dolphins Deep Dive: Prediction time — will Miami win at Jets, and make playoffs? | VIDEO