Everyone please give Miami Dolphins LB Raekwon McMillan a tip of the cap. One of Miami’s select few long-term pieces has been a breath of fresh air this season, steadily providing a physical presence in the middle of the defense and serving as one of the NFL’s better run defenders. McMillan was one of Miami’s key lifelines during this lost season — and not once while McMillan has been on the field would you guess he’s on one of the worst teams in the NFL.
By the time McMillan suits up for the Dolphins again, things are going to look very, very different. Because the next time we see Raekwon McMillan in a Dolphins uniform, it will be September of 2020 — the Dolphins placed McMillan on injured reserve yesterday for a hamstring injury with two games left to play.
We have signed linebacker Calvin Munson off New England’s practice squad and placed linebacker Raekwon McMillan on injured reserve.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 17, 2019
The decision to IR McMillan should be cause of concern for his health or long-term well being, as with just two weeks left a lingering hamstring issue won’t be magically healed and it won’t make much sense to ask McMillan to play through the tweaked muscle.
His absence will be notable this weekend against the 1-13 Cincinnati Bengals, especially considering how third year running back Joe Mixon has come to life in recent weeks. With Miami missing McMillan’s play on the second level, the Bengals are going to have some prominent opportunities to challenge the Dolphins in the run game, which may put Sunday’s contest into question. But ultimately for the Dolphins, keeping McMillan protected for the long-term far exceeds his availability for a Week 16 contest as a 3-11 football team.
Until next year, thanks for a great effort this season Raekwon!
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