The Miami Dolphins appear to be facing a safety shortage for the second consecutive season. Jevon Holland, a four-year starter, exited Sunday’s 15-10 victory over the New England Patriots in the fourth quarter due to a hand injury. He was replaced by Elijah Campbell, who filled in for Holland last season when he was dealing with knee injuries. After the game, Holland’s hand was in a cast, and there were discussions among him and his teammates about the possibility of needing surgery.
Holland may have broken a bone in his hand since he was ruled out, and if that’s confirmed, the Dolphins could be without their 2021 second-round pick for several weeks. Playing a safety with a hand in a cast is not ideal.
While playing with a hand in a cast is possible, it wouldn’t be beneficial for tackling or creating turnovers. Fortunately, the Dolphins have a bye next week, giving Holland a chance to heal. Miami was already missing Jordan Poyer, who suffered a shin injury in last week’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. Marcus Maye stepped in for Poyer as the starting strong safety, making his 78th NFL start and leading the team with nine tackles.
In addition to Campbell, the Dolphins have Nik Needham and rookie Jordan Colbert on the practice squad. Needham was elevated to the game day roster on Sunday and primarily contributed on special teams. Last season, Miami experienced a series of injuries to their safeties, including Holland, who missed or was limited in eight games due to a double knee injury he sustained during Miami’s Black Friday win against the Jets.
Leave a Reply