The Miami Dolphins have dealt with offensive line injuries throughout the course of their 2023 season. In fact, they’ve used 11 different starting offensive line combinations this year.
Right guard Robert Hunt is just one member of the unit that’s been in and out of the lineup through the first 17 weeks, and it’s new territory for him.
Entering the year, Hunt had played in every single one of the team’s games from 2020-22. In 2023, he’s already missed six games and played just one special teams snap in another.
Heading into Miami’s Week 18 matchup with the Buffalo Bills, a game that will decide the division as well as the No. 2 seed in the AFC postseason, there’s a real chance that Hunt returns to the field for the first time since Week 13 against the Washington Commanders.
“Man, it’s been very, very frustrating,” Hunt told the media on Thursday. “It sucks, man. It sucks. It’s a tough thing, especially if you’re not used to it, you know what I mean? To sit back and watch. But like I said, give credit to the guys up front that’s been plugging in and doing what they’ve got to do and doing it at a high level. Man, I can only commend those guys, and now I’m excited to go out there and play with them.”
This is the second collection of contests that Hunt has missed this season. How did the two compare?
“It was close to the first one,” he said. “I wouldn’t sit out if it wasn’t nothing serious. If I think I could play and go, I would’ve definitely went. But it was something that was pretty, I don’t want to say severe, but it was pretty intense.”
During his absence, he’s been enjoying the play from the guys up front.
“Man, I think the guys that have been playing up front have done a fantastic job,” Hunt said. “With a lot of guys, the injuries that are going on, I think they’ve been doing really good, man. I’m excited to get on the (field), play the game the way I like to play the game, and if that helps winning games, that’s what I want to do. I don’t know, I’m just excited to be back on the field.”
If he returns for Sunday night, Miami will get a big boost to their group that can certainly use more veterans on the offensive line.