Before practice on Friday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel ruled out safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf) for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.
Cornerback Isaiah Johnson will land on injured reserve after tearing an ACL in practice earlier this week.
The full report also brought news that defensive tackle Benito Jones (back) won’t play. Jones was downgraded to a non-participant in Friday’s practice after limited work Wednesday and Thursday.
Wide receiver Dee Eskridge (toe) is doubtful after another missed practice on Friday.
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson (chest), center Aaron Brewer (neck), offensive lineman Andrew Meyer (triceps) and kicker Jason Sanders (right hip) are questionable.
Tight end Darren Waller (rest/groin) and wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (wrist) does not have an injury designation.
The Buccaneers will not have left tackle Tristan Wirfs in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins.
Wirfs injured his toe in last Sunday’s loss to the Panthers and head coach Todd Bowles said on Friday that Wirfs has been ruled out because of the injury. This will be the fifth game that Wirfs has missed this season with knee and oblique injuries accounting for the previous absences.
Bowles said that rookie Benjamin Chukwuma will start in place of Wirfs. He also started in the team’s Week 14 loss to the Saints.
Edge rusher Anthony Nelson and defensive tackle Calijah Kancey have also been ruled out. Nelson injured his knee against Carolina while Kancey is working his way back from a Week 2 pectoral injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will not play against the Buccaneers on Sunday.
Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters at a Friday press conference that Fitzpatrick has been ruled out. It is the second straight game that Fitzpatrick will miss with a calf injury and McDaniel said he considers Fitzpatrick day-to-day for the team’s Week 18 game against the Patriots.
Fitzpatrick has 82 tackles, an interception, a sack, a forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries this season.
McDaniel also said that defensive back Isaiah Johnson is out after tearing his ACL in practice earlier this week. Wide receiver Dee Eskridge (toe) is also expected to miss the game while tight end Darren Waller (groin), linebacker Tyrel Dodson (chest), and center Aaron Brewer (neck) are expected to practice Friday.
With the Lions losing on Christmas Day in Minnesota, the NFC playoff field is nearly set.
The NFC’s postseason qualifiers are the Seahawks, Bears, Eagles, Rams, 49ers, Packers, and the eventual winner of the NFC South.
It will be the Panthers or the Buccaneers winning that division, and hosting a wild-card game as the No. 4 seed against the No. 5 seed.
As to the rest of the seeding, it’s all TBD. Which gives the last two weekends some extra sizzle — possibly with the No. 1 seed coming down to the Week 18 game between the Seahawks and the 49ers.
Three NFC teams that didn’t make it last year are in for 2025: Bears, Seahawks, and 49ers. The number will increase to four if the Panthers take the NFC South from the Bucs, who have won it every year since 2021.
Bounced from the 2024 field are the Lions, Vikings, and Commanders. The failure of the Lions to make it is stunning; they were 15-2 last year. They’re 8-8 through sixteen games in 2025.
Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick remained out of practice on Wednesday as he works his way back from a calf injury.
Fitzpatrick hurt his calf in Week 15 and missed Sunday’s loss to the Bengals with his injury.
In 14 games with the Dolphins after the trade from Pittsburgh, he has totaled 82 tackles, four tackles for loss, one sack, six pass breakups and an interception.
The Dolphins also practiced without linebacker Tyrel Dodson (chest). He played 58 of 61 defensive snaps on Sunday.
Center Aaron Brewer (neck), wide receiver Dee Eskridge (toe) and tight end Darren Waller (rest/groin) also sat out Wednesday’s session.
Cornerback Isaiah Johnson (knee), defensive tackle Benito Jones (back) and kicker Jason Sanders (right hip) were limited. Sanders is in his 21-day return-to-practice window.
Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (wrist) was among the full participants for the Dolphins.
