Dolphins place starting center Connor Williams on season-ending IR

After Connor Williams, the starting centre for the Miami Dolphins, tore his anterior cruciate ligament during Monday’s loss to the Tennessee Titans, the team placed him on season-ending injured reserve on Wednesday.

Williams, who is set to become a free agency in March, was hurt during the Dolphins’ opening offensive play in their 28-27 home loss to Tennessee, which caused Miami to drop out of first place in the AFC.

On that same offensive series, Williams’s loss was felt. Williams was one of Miami’s top offensive guards. Backup centre Liam Eichenberg and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa mishandled the snap, causing a turnover that put the Titans in position to score at the Tennessee 2-yard line.

While accepting responsibility for the poorly executed snap, Tagovailoa clarified that it was a transition from Williams to Eichenberg.

“I need to seize the opportunity,” he declared. “In practice, I don’t get as many repetitions with Liam. In terms of quarterback-center exchanges, I get some reps, but Connor is our primary centre, so that’s the only guy I work with in that regard. All I have to do is keep working on those with Liam; it’s my fault, not his, and I’ll grow better as a result.

Now, the Dolphins’ offensive line is down four starters: In addition to Williams, Terron Armstead, a seasoned left tackle, was also sidelined by ankle and knee issues on Monday. Rob Hunt, the starting right guard (hamstring)

When the Dolphins play the New York Jets on Sunday, coach Mike McDaniel stated on Tuesday that Armstead might make a comeback. However, he added that he would be “pleasantly surprised” if Hunt was fit to play.

Williams played his first four NFL seasons with Dallas before signing a two-year contract with Miami in March of last year. After switching from guard to centre last season, he has started 26 games for Miami at centre. Williams is ranked as the best centre in 2023 by Pro Football Focus.

McDaniel stated, “You don’t necessarily replace that directly.” “But you also put a lot of effort into contingencies for these kinds of situations.”

The Dolphins signed offensive lineman Jonotthan Harrison to the active roster and acquired Matt Skura to the practice squad in order to provide centre options while Williams was sidelined for the whole season.

Lester Cotton will be Eichenberg’s backup as the centre for Miami going forward.

There are injury worries for the Dolphins at several different spots.

Tyreek Hill only played 34 snaps on Monday due to an ankle injury sustained in the first quarter.

Regarding Tyreek’s availability on Sunday, McDaniel stated, “I’m optimistic about Tyreek generally.” “I am aware that everything is possible if one is willing.” It’s a bit soon to be so certain.

In any case, he took the time to warm up, work through the discomfort, and reach a place where he felt confident enough to deliver the services we require from him despite the terrible ankle injury. He’s only given me more cause to be optimistic about his abilities, but you can never be too sure about anything until he explicitly tells me that he will play.

The condition of DeShon Elliott, the starting safety who follows the concussion protocol, and