As the Miami Dolphins brace for their upcoming Week 6 contest against the New York Jets, the team is looking forward to not just the game itself, but the ensuing bye week as an opportunity to get healthy and brace for the 10-game stretch between their bye and the end of the 2020 regular season. And, with a little luck, perhaps an extra game or two along the way in the form of postseason play. That’s a long ways off, however — and all the Dolphins in the building care about is beating the New York Jets.
The good news? The Jets aren’t very good. The better news? The injury reports thus far this week paint quite the picture for the Dolphins and Jets: Miami should have a significant health advantage entering into this football game. Of Miami’s players included on the injury report, the only one who has not been at least a participant through the first two reports is defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, who has been established to have an injury that may very well end his season prematurely.
Byron Jones? Kyle Van Noy? Xavien Howard? DeVante Parker? All participating in practice.
The New York Jets, on the other hand, are not so fortunate. Standout rookie tackle Mekhi Becton did not participate in the first two days of practice this week. Young quarterback Sam Darnold has already been confirmed to be out for this football game — the Dolphins will face Joe Flacco instead. Add in the departure of Le’Veon Bell and New York’s already dwindling talent and it is no wonder the Dolphins are betting favorites for the first time in the Brian Flores era.
Whether or not they can finish the job is a different story. This is, after all, the NFL. And no win should be assumed. Miami knows that all too well after playing the role of spoiler in 2019 — now it is up to them to avoid the same fate with the shoe on the other foot.