With only three weeks left in the regular season, you’d be hard-pressed to find a team in the NFL that is completely healthy.
Most players are dealing with some kind of strain, sprain, or just plain fatigue.
The Dallas Cowboys and Miami Dolphins aren’t immune to that end-of-season fatigue, and the Week 16 injury report proves it.
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys officially list eight players on their Week 16 injury report.
Out
DT Johnathan Hankins (ankle)
This is not the player that we want to see in this column after watching the Bills run for 266 yards.
Johnathan Hankins will be out of the lineup for at least one more week with the ankle he injured versus the Eagles.
When asked, Hankins stated next week versus the Detroit Lions is a more realistic timeline for a return to the field.
Doubtful
LT Tyron Smith (back)
Tyron Smith has not practiced for weeks so seeing him on this report isn’t a surprise.
The surprising part is that he is not listed with rest, instead, he is suffering from back tightness stemming from the Bills game.
If Tyron is unable to play, get ready to see Chuma Edoga or Asim Richards starting at left tackle.
Questionable
RG Zack Martin (quad), S Malik Hooker (ankle), DE Viliami Fehoko (knee), T Matt Waletzko (shoulder)
Zack Martin got banged up in the Bills game after only 10 snaps played.
He took a knee to the quad and was unable to re-enter the game after his quad wasn’t responding to stimulation.
Martin is trending up.
Malik Hooker did not play versus Buffalo, but as much as the ran the ball, Hooker would not have been effective.
He will be a valuable piece on the field against Miami to defend against their unreal speed on the outside.
Viliami Fehoko and Matt Waletzko have not been active this season.
Fehoko just hasn’t cracked the gameday active roster, and Waletzko is still waiting to be activated from injured reserve.
No Designation
RB Tony Pollard (thumb), RB Rico Dowdle (ankle)
Running backs Tony Pollard and Rico Dowdle will be ready to run on Sunday.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins officially list a whopping 17 players on their injury report.
Out
OL Robert Hunt (hamstring)
Starting RG Robert Hunt will miss Sunday’s game with a strained hamstring.
Questionable
OL Liam Eichenberg (calf), S Jevon Holland (knees), DE Emmanuel Ogbah (hamstring), CB Cam Smith (hamstring), OL Austin Jackson (oblique), DB Elijah Campbell (knee), WR Tyreek Hill (ankle), CB Xavien Howard (hip)
The Dolphins list eight players with the questionable designation.
Starting C Liam Eichenberg and starting RT Austin Jackson will play, which is a sigh of relief for QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Speed WR Tyreek Hill will also play after missing one game with a sprained ankle.
The Dolphins’ secondary will also get a boost.
Defensive backs Jevon Holland and Xavien Howard will be ready to go versus Dallas.
No Designation
OL Lester Cotton (hip), S DeShon Elliott (concussion), RB De’Von Achane (toe), CB Kader Kohou (hip), LB Andrew Van Ginkel (oblique/nose), TE Durham Smythe (ankle), RB Raheem Mostert (knee/ankle), T Terron Armstead (knee/ankle)
The Dolphins list eight players with no designation at the end of the week, and all are cleared to play.