Dolphins' depleted secondary becoming a primary concern
After the Miami Dolphins’ offense stalled in the second half of Sunday’s win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, the defense held on to get the job done with a secondary down several starters.
Though cornerback Xavien Howard is returning to form, Miami was still without cornerback Byron Jones (ankle) and fellow corner Nik Needham is done for the season with an Achilles injury.
Defensive backs Keion Crossen (knee) and Kader Kohou (oblique) were also inactive Sunday.
That resulted in Noah Igbinoghene playing all 75 defensive snaps, tied for a career high set in Week 4 of the 2020 season, with all but three coming at wide cornerback.
Igbinoghene, the 30th overall pick in 2020, had struggled to get playing time until injuries forced him into action. Igbinoghene was joined by Justin Bethel in the slot. Bethel, who is primarily a special-teamer, played 59 defensive snaps Sunday after playing just 14 all season.
Steelers rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett tested the two more often than anyone else on the Miami defense, and had success in doing so. Igbinoghene allowed six receptions on eight targets for 65 yards, and Bethel gave up seven receptions on nine targets for 54 yards.
However, both made key plays that were enough to help win.
Bethel intercepted Pickett in the first quarter to set up a Miami field goal, and Igbinoghene came down with the game-clinching pick in the end zone as the Steelers were driving with 18 seconds to go.
Cornerback was not the only position the Dolphins had to fill, as safety Brandon Jones — the team’s leading tackler — went down with a knee injury in the second half.
In stepped Clayton Fejedelem, who had played just one defensive snap all season. He came up with three tackles, including a huge stop on a third-and-one to force a punt and a pass breakup.
Veteran Eric Rowe and practice squad elevation Verone McKinley III also played safety.
Playing opposite Jones, Fejedelem Rowe and McKinley was Jevon Holland, who also played all 75 snaps and had an interception.
Sunday night proved the Dolphins can get the job done with what they have, though that is far from ideal.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel announced Monday that Brandon Jones will be placed on injured reserve. McDaniel did not specify what the injury was and did not give a timetable for a return.
"We're getting some second opinions...We should know more by Wednesday," McDaniel said. "But I'm not too excited about it."
Kohou and Crossen both worked out on the field before the game against the Steelers, but their status for Sunday against the Detroit Lions is unknown.
Byron Jones remains on the physically unable to perform list. McDaniel said Monday that he is not yet ready to return.
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