Dolphins bring in two centers as Connor Williams goes on IR; Miami injuries piling up
The Miami Dolphins needed to bring in a center after Connor Williams tore the ACL in his left knee, ending his 2023 season.
They added two Wednesday. Jonotthan Harrison was signed to the active roster, and Matt Skura was brought onto the practice squad. Williams was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.
Harrison, 32, a Florida Gators alum, has 84 games played and 42 starts in his NFL career, last playing a regular-season game in the 2019 season. He was with the Indianapolis Colts from 2014 to 2016 and the New York Jets in the three seasons that followed.
Since, Harrison has been on practice squads or offseason rosters for the Buffalo Bills, New York Giants and Atlanta Falcons.
Liam Eichenberg is slated to be the Dolphins’ top center with Williams out, but even he is dealing with a calf injury coming off Monday night’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. Coach Mike McDaniel noted Lester Cotton as Eichenberg’s backup. Harrison provides further depth with vast experience snapping the football.
Skura is now in a second stint with the Dolphins after spending the 2021 offseason and training camp in Miami. He has played in 77 games with 73 starts between time with the Baltimore Ravens, New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams.
Injury report
The Dolphins didn’t practice Wednesday but released an injury report in an estimation of player participation.
It revealed several new injuries players are dealing with ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jets at Hard Rock Stadium.
Running back De’Von Achane is now hampered by a toe injury. He was estimated as a non-participant were there a Wednesday practice. Eichenberg, who was seen wearing a walking boot on his right foot after Monday’s loss to the Titans, has a calf injury and also wouldn’t have participated in a Wednesday practice. Cornerback Xavien Howard indeed has an ailing hip after banging it in a collision with safety Brandon Jones Monday and would’ve had the day off.
Also listed as non-participants on the Wednesday injury report: Wide receiver Tyreek Hill (ankle), left tackle Terron Armstead (knee/ankle), safety DeShon Elliott (concussion protocol and ribs), right guard Robert Hunt (hamstring) and running back Raheem Mostert (knee and veteran rest).
Right tackle Austin Jackson and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel both have oblique injuries and would’ve been limited in Wednesday drills. Safety Jevon Holland (knees) and running back Chris Brooks, who is on IR recovering from a knee ailment, were listed as limited.
The Dolphins hold their only true practice of the week on Friday.
Pro Bowl votes
The NFL announced its Wednesday update in Pro Bowl fan votes, and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains the league leader.
Tagovailoa now has 129,783 votes, more than doubling the 59,680 he had at the first release of the standings a week earlier. He extended his lead over second place, which is now San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (100,008), to nearly 30,000.
With Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (96,274) in third, the Dolphins’ Hill is fourth with 87,355. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy now rounds out the top five (84,613).
Tagovailoa leads the NFL in passing yards (3,697), is third in quarterback rating (104.8) and fourth in passing touchdowns (24).
The Dolphins, as a team, are second to the 49ers in garnering the most votes.
Tagovailoa and Hill aren’t the only ones leading their position groups in the AFC in fan votes. Joining them: Mostert, fullback Alec Ingold, Armstead, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, long snapper Blake Ferguson, return specialist Braxton Berrios and special teamer Duke Riley.
The 2024 Pro Bowl Games return to Orlando and Camping World Stadium this season, taking place Feb. 4, a week before the Super Bowl.
Fans can vote as often as they like until Dec. 25 at ProBowl.com/Vote.
Additionally, from Dec. 11 to Dec. 25, fans can vote directly on X (formerly Twitter) by tweeting the first and last name of the player, tagging the player’s official X handle or creating a hashtag including the player’s first and last name. All three of these methods must include the hashtag “#ProBowlVote.” During the final two days (Dec. 24 and Dec. 25), social votes will count as double.
Player selections will be determined by the consensus votes of fans, players and coaches, with each group’s vote counting as one-third toward determining the all-star players who will be selected. NFL players and coaches will cast their votes Dec. 29.