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Latest Dolphins Player Notes

Nov 19 2009 - Lex Hilliard
RB Lex Hilliard is expected to be the primary backup behind Ricky Williams with Ronnie Brown out for the season, according to the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Hilliard finally made his Wildcat debut at New England. Hilliard lined up in the slot but Chad Henne was sacked for an 11-yard loss on the flea flicker. Hilliard figured to take more of Patrick Cobbs' snaps in the Wildcat after the sparkplug blew out his knee in the first Jets game, but those extra snaps have gone instead to fullback Lousaka Polite.

Nov 18 2009 - Ronnie Brown
RB Ronnie Brown (right foot) was placed on season-ending injured reserve. The team had hoped Brown would return at some point this season, but NFL.com reported Brown will be examined by a specialist Thursday.

Nov 18 2009 - Nate Ness
DB Nate Ness was signed to Miami's active roster from the practice squad.

Nov 17 2009 - Anthony Fasano
TE Anthony Fasano missed his second straight practice on Tuesday with an injured hip that kept him out of the Tampa Bay game. If Fasano can't go, it would give backups Joey Haynos and Kory Sperry a chance to build on the gains of their strong showings in the win over the Bucs.

Nov 17 2009 - Paul Soliai
NT Paul Soliai continues to be limited in practice with an ankle injury. If the backup can't play for the second straight game, look for Lionel Dotson to be active for the third straight week.

Nov 17 2009 - Erik Walden
LB Erik Walden (hamstring) continues to be limited in practice. He was missed on special teams against the Bucs, who blocked an early extra point by Dan Carpenter (his second PAT miss in 64 career tries) and limited the Dolphins in kick coverage.

Nov 17 2009 - Gibril Wilson
FS Gibril Wilson was limited in practice for the second straight day with a hamstring injury. If he can't go or is merely compromised, look for rookie safety Chris Clemons to pick up a few more snaps.

Nov 17 2009 - Justin Smiley
LG Justin Smiley (shoulder) was limited in practice on both Monday and Tuesday but was optimistic he would be able to play on Thursday. If he can't go, second-year man Nate Garner figures to make his second straight start after doing a solid job against Tampa Bay.

Nov 17 2009 - J.D. Folsom
ILB J.D. Folsom, a seventh-round pick from Weber State, cleared waivers for the second time this season and was put back on the practice squad. Folsom was active for one game, the loss at New England on Nov. 8, and made one tackle on special teams (on the opening kickoff).

Nov 17 2009 - Chad Pennington
QB Chac Pennington heads back to Birmingham, Ala., Wednesday for a two-day follow-up visit with Dr. James Andrews and his team of physical therapists. It was Andrews who repaired the torn labrum and torn capsule Pennington suffered in the Sept. 27 loss at San Diego, but this process has been easier so far than the previous two times Pennington had his shoulder repaired. If the plan holds, Pennington should be throwing again by early January and ready to work out for interested teams by March 1. Should one of those teams be the Dolphins, he said, that would be ideal, regardless of his role. Pennington and Chad Henne enjoy a close relationship, unlike many previous quarterbacks who have gone through a similar dynamic.

Nov 17 2009 - Joey Porter
OLB Joey Porter (knee) is expected to start Thursday night against Carolina, coach Tony Sparano said. An ESPN report claimed Porter would not only miss that game but not be back in the lineup anytime soon. Sparano said he planned to continue rotating his deep group of outside linebackers (including Jason Taylor, Cameron Wake, Matt Roth and Charlie Anderson) even with Porter back from a coach-imposed benching on Sunday for reasons the team has yet to explain.

Nov 17 2009 - Ronnie Brown
RB Ronnie Brown (right foot) was ruled out for Thursday's game against Carolina by coach Tony Sparano. Brown, injured in the third quarter of Sunday's win against Tampa Bay, will be sent to see a specialist to help determine how long he will be out. The hope for now is to have him return in time for the trip to Buffalo on Nov. 19. He leads the team in rushing.

Nov 17 2009 - Chad Pennington
QB Chad Pennington on Tuesday made his first public comments since undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery on Oct. 2. Speaking after an appearance at the Miami Dolphins Touchdown Club, Pennington described the extent of his game-week work with successor Chad Henne and the Dolphins' weekly offensive game plan. Pennington, who is always one week ahead in breaking down game film of upcoming opponents, huddles with Henne every Monday to rehash the previous day's outcome. Pennington, whose two-year contract expires at season's end, also meets with the team's three healthy quarterbacks each Tuesday to share his notes and ideas for the next game. When game day rolls around, however, Pennington is limited to exchanging serial text messages with Dolphins coach Tony Sparano and Henne, before and after the game. For someone who is far from retired and still gets "those chill bumps up my spine" while watching Henne pull out late comebacks like Sunday's against Tampa Bay, Pennington, 33, admittedly struggles with that separation. "When you become injured you almost become like a ghost," he said. "You're not needed or wanted on the field." Sparano also struggles with that separation from a player he values as a resource and respects as much as any player he's ever coached. Just don't look for Sparano to relax his rule against having injured players on the sideline during games, even if Pennington could be a great sounding board for Henne. "It's something I've really wrestled with a little bit, to be honest with you," Sparano said. "But no, I don't think so right now. Consistency is important in that decision. There have been some other injured players that I have not let down there (on the sideline). It's just part of my philosophy that it's not a good thing to do." Sparano said in some cases it "could be a distraction" to have an injured player on the sideline, but made it clear how much he appreciates the preparatory work Pennington does each week, even as he rehabs

Nov 16 2009 - Gibril Wilson
S Gibril Wilson, who strained a hamstring Sunday, practiced on a limited basis Monday.

Nov 16 2009 - Erik Walden
LB Erik Walden, a special teams stalwart who sat out with a hamstring injury Sunday, practiced on a limited basis Monday.

Nov 16 2009 - Paul Soliai
DT Paul Soliai, who sat out Sunday with an ankle injury, practiced on a limited basis Monday.

Nov 16 2009 - Anthony Fasano
TE Anthony Fasano, who sat out Sunday with a hip injury, didn't practice Monday, meaning rookie Kory Sperry probably will receive plenty of snaps Thursday, especially after his smashing debut (three catches for 31 yards and a TD).

Nov 16 2009 - Charlie Anderson
OLB Charlie Anderson earned more playing time with two forced fumbles, a sack and five tackles while filling in for Joey Porter on Sunday. Neither fumble was recovered by Miami. Coach Tony Sparano said he is moving toward a deeper rotation, meaning that Anderson and Cameron Wake will be spelling Porter and Jason Taylor a lot more as the season progresses.

Nov 16 2009 - Joe Berger
G Joe Berger filled in briefly for starting RG Donald Thomas when he went out with a neck stinger, but Thomas returned.

Nov 16 2009 - Justin Smiley
LG Justin Smiley, who missed his first game of the season Sunday with a shoulder injury, practiced on a limited basis Monday.

Nov 16 2009 - Jason Taylor
OLB Jason Taylor notched his eighth career interception, but it took a long review by the officials to change the original call of incomplete. Although Taylor snatched the ball while in the air after it came out of Mark Clayton's hands and raced into the end zone, the officials said he was not allowed to score because the play was originally called an incompletion. Miami took over on Tampa Bay's 8 and scored two plays later

Nov 16 2009 - Channing Crowder
LB Channing Crowder recorded a sack against Tampa Bay QB Josh Freeman. It was the linebacker's first full sack since Dec. 17, 2006, when he sacked Bills QB J.P. Losman. Crowder had a half-sack on Nov. 26, 2007, vs. the Steelers.

Nov 16 2009 - Kory Sperry
TE Kory Sperry, the rookie who was activated off the practice squad Saturday to take Anthony Fasano's place, enjoyed a rousing debut. He had three catches for 31 yards, including his first career touchdown. Sperry was euphoric afterward. "The way I approached it is you never know what tomorrow is going to hold. You can get hurt, you can get released. It's just a business," he told the Palm Beach Post. "This is what I always dreamed of. I never expected to be here. And when they gave me the chance, I didn't want to let it go."

Nov 16 2009 - Ricky Williams
RB Ricky Williams, 32, is averaging a career-high 5.3 yards per carry for 558 yards, including six rushing touchdowns, the most he's scored since 2005. Williams gained 102 yards Sunday after going 15 straight games without toppling the century mark. He had 105 yards in Game 9 against Seattle last November. He became the oldest Dolphins running back to rush for 100 or more yards.

Nov 16 2009 - Dan Carpenter
K Dan Carpenter, who was 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 45- and 49-yarder, is now 19-for-19 on field goals from 40 to 49 yards in his two seasons. He is 15-for-16 overall this season.

Nov 16 2009 - Joey Porter
OLB Joey Porter, benched for disciplinary reasons Sunday, is back in good graces and said he is healthy and prepared to play Thursday.

Nov 16 2009 - Ronnie Brown
RB Ronnie Brown, who limped off the field with an ankle injury in the third quarter and left the locker room on crutches, most likely won't play Thursday. He didn't practice Monday and is also nursing a foot injury. Ricky Williams will take on the bulk of the load, but Lex Hilliard and FB Lousaka Polite probably will have their numbers called a few extra times.

Nov 15 2009 - Justin Smiley
LG Justin Smiley is expected back at practice on Monday after sitting out his first game of the year with a shoulder injury. OL Nate Garner, a second-year man out of Arkansas, did a nice job Sunday filling in for Smiley.

Nov 15 2009 - Nate Garner
OL Nate Garner, a second-year man out of Arkansas, did a nice job filling in for starter Justin Smiley at left guard. Smiley is expected back at practice on Monday after sitting out his first game of the year with a shoulder injury.

Nov 15 2009 - Ted Ginn Jr.
WR Ted Ginn Jr. heard boos at home once again after dropping a deep post pattern on the Dolphins' opening offensive play and bobbling the kickoff in the final two minutes. Ginn, back in the starting lineup for the first time in three weeks, was targeted with three passes but came down with none of them.

Nov 15 2009 - Charlie Anderson
LB Charlie Anderson filled in for Joey Porter, who was benched Saturday for reasons coach Tony Sparano would not clarify publicly, and produced nicely. Anderson had a sack, a tackle for loss and forced two fumbles on rookie quarterback Josh Freeman, neither of which the Dolphins recovered.

Nov 15 2009 - Ricky Williams
RB Ricky Williams finished with 102 yards on 20 carries Sunday, his first 100-yard rushing game since Game 9 last season against Seattle and just his second in the NFL since 2005. If RB Ronnie Brown (ankle) is out Thursday, Williams would likely assume the bulk of the carries as well as primary signal-calling responsibilities in the Wildcat formation. Williams, however, isn't the same passing threat as Brown.

Nov 15 2009 - Ronnie Brown
RB Ronnie Brown probably won't be able to play Thursday at Carolina, but for now it looks as though the Dolphins dodged a bullet with the injury to Brown's right ankle rather than his surgically repaired right knee. The Dolphins' leading rusher left the locker room on crutches after Sunday's 25-23 win over Tampa Bay, but Brown was not wearing a protective boot and suggested X-rays were negative. "I don't feel like it's too bad," Brown said. "Hopefully everything works out. I feel OK."

Nov 15 2009 - Anthony Fasano
TE Anthony Fasano (hip) is inactive Sunday.

Nov 15 2009 - Justin Smiley
OG Justin Smiley (shoulder) is inactive Sunday.

Nov 15 2009 - Kory Sperry
TE Kory Sperry was signed to Miami's active roster from the practice squad.

Nov 14 2009 - Joey Porter
OLB Joey Porter won't play Sunday, with the Miami Herald reporting it's a "coach's decision" and not injury related. Porter returned to practice Friday after missing two games, but it's uncertain what led to him not playing.

Nov 12 2009 - J.D. Folsom
LB J.D. Folsom was released by Miami. Folsom made his NFL regular-season debut against the Patriots after being added to the 53-man roster from the practice squad on Saturday and on his very first play on the game's opening kickoff he and CB Nate Jones combined to tackle Patriots returner Brandon Tate after a 28-yard gain.

Nov 12 2009 - Erik Walden
LB Erik Walden, a special teams stalwart, has been out all week with a hamstring injury, which could hurt the Dolphins improving kick-punt special teams units.

Nov 12 2009 - Jason Ferguson
NT Jason Ferguson, who missed last week with an elbow injury, is back practicing without limitations.

Nov 12 2009 - Paul Soliai
NT Paul Soliai is sidelined with an ankle injury

Nov 12 2009 - Anthony Fasano
TE Anthony Fasano, in the midst of a season-long slump, practiced with limitations due to a hip injury. Backup Joey Haynos has been more productive recently with two touchdown catches in the last two games. Fasano has one touchdown grab after a career-high seven last year. The Dolphins could activate rookie TE John Nalbone.

Nov 12 2009 - Channing Crowder
MLB Channing Crowder, who has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, is practicing without limitations and desperately wants to play. However, his fill-in, Reggie Torbor, has been solid in his absence with 14 tackles the last two games.

Nov 12 2009 - Lydon Murtha
OT Lydon Murtha, a recent pickup from the Lions, is also a tackle who has been taking some snaps at Justin Smiley's spot this week

Nov 12 2009 - Nate Garner
OT Nate Garner, a converted tackle, has been practicing in Justin Smiley's spot, and may get the start. He was in the rotation last week at right guard behind Donald Thomas. Joe Berger is also a possibility.

Nov 12 2009 - Justin Smiley
LG Justin Smiley, considered the Dolphins' best run-blocker, has been out all week with a recurring shoulder injury that has already been surgically repaired twice.

Nov 12 2009 - Joey Porter
OLB Joey Porter, hindered by hamstring and knee ailments, is extremely doubtful for Sunday's game. Cameron Wake is in line to get plenty of action, especially after a solid effort against the Patriots in which he notched a sack and two pressures.

Nov 11 2009 - Lousaka Polite
FB Lousaka Polite leads the NFL in third-and-1 efficiency. He has been stopped just once in his last 20 carries on third- or fourth-and-1 and is 8 for 8 in those situations this season.

Nov 11 2009 - Will Allen
CB Will Allen, who had reconstructive surgery on his left knee last week, revealed Wednesday that doctors found multiple ligament tears. "It was pretty bad," Allen said, speaking publicly for the first time since suffering the injury on Oct. 25 against the Saints. "There's still pain." Allen, signed through 2010, expects the pain to subside in two weeks and hopes to return in time for spring conditioning.

Nov 11 2009 - Davone Bess
WR Davone Bess leads Dolphins receivers with 36 receptions and has been targeted 52 times, meaning he has caught the ball at a .692 clip when targeted. Greg Camarillo has an .833 percentage (25 of 30), while rookie Brian Hartline is at .647 (11 of 17) and Ted Ginn Jr is last at .432 (19 of 44).