When the Miami Dolphins take the field for Week 4 against the Seattle Seahawks this afternoon, they’ll be hoping to roll out the same starting five on the offensive line for the fourth straight game. That level of consistency would be impressive alone, considering what the Dolphins went through last season with a constant churn of offensive linemen that never really allowed anyone on the line to establish any real chemistry with one another.
But even with the lingering foot discomfort being felt by Dolphins right guard Solomon Kindley, who surprisingly arrived on the team’s final injury report at the end of the week, the Dolphins are going to be okay up front regardless. The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported on Kindley’s foot on Friday and offered this perspective on the situation:
“Right guard Solomon Kindley has been bothered occasionally by foot discomfort in recent weeks and it flared up again late this week; he was listed as being limited in practice on Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game,” wrote Jackson.
“According to a source, an MRI conducted Thursday revealed no structural damage and Kindley expects to play on Sunday. Kindley has impressed as a fourth-round rookie starter and hasn’t allowed a sack in three games.”
The prognosis sounds good. But even in Kindley can’t play, the team will have 2020 2nd-round pick Robert Hunt and 2019 3rd-round pick (and 2019 starter) Michael Deiter on call to step into the lineup. The improved depth for the Dolphins up front has this team well positioned to absorb a loss on the line without it being a crippling loss. Miami’s pass protection thus far this season has been sufficient and the run blocking has been something of a work in progress — but there’s no denying the line is moving in the right direction. And, if Kindley has to miss some time to ensure his long-term health, his absence won’t derail the progress.