Dolphins center Connor Williams may have returned from his groin injury a little earlier than expected this season.
Perhaps because he only missed one match, Williams had to sit out three more matches.
Conversely, fullback Xavien Howard, also slowed by an adductor injury, declared himself ready to play two games ago.
He is not allowed to play.
It seems like the Dolphins have learned lessons from last year’s and this year’s injuries.
As a result, they prioritize health at the end of the year and during the playoffs over health throughout the year.
This seems like a well-executed plan.
Now we should give a warning.
Let’s not send them congratulations anymore.
This problem is far from over.
The offensive line can go either direction health-wise, and the same goes for the running backs and cornerbacks.
And we still have to hope that quarterback Jalen Ramsey doesn’t return too soon from knee surgery (I don’t think he did).
But the plan is about to come true.
We all remember how lame the Dolphins were in the wild card game against Buffalo last season.
They don’t have quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, left guard Liam Eichenberg, right tackle Brandon Shell, running back Raheem Mostert, edge rusher Bradley Chubb or safety Brandon Jones.
It seems history doesn’t repeat itself that way.
Yes, the Dolphins still have major injury problems.
At this point, however, all signs point to Howard and Williams returning on Sunday against Kansas City in Germany.
Other key players are expected to return soon and will hopefully be fit for the return leg.
Look at how intentional the Dolphins were when players returned from injury.
All signs are that key players like Howard, Williams, Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead (knee) and running back De’Von Achane (knee) are playing together and as healthy as possible entering some time right after the bye week.
Consider how they managed to designate eight players who could return from injured reserve, even leaving room for a player like River Cracraft, their top blocking receiver and a key player of special teams.
The Dolphins are preparing to compete in the Super Bowl.
Let’s see how things are going after Sunday’s game against Kansas City in Germany.
The Dolphins have a bye week to deal with other health issues.
Then they get an eight-game stretch in the regular season, which gives them a chance to compete two or three games into the Super Bowl.
Think of this as a season of 10 or 11 extremely intense games.
Coach Mike McDaniel didn’t say so last week.
But listen to what he said about Howard’s removal from the New England game and consider that he said the same thing about Williams.
“We really have to look at the big picture and see what failure or a persistent problem is going to do to this team and what we’re trying to do,” McDaniel said.
“I wouldn’t say he liked to watch the last match, but he liked to do what was useful for the team.
And I know he’d rather play than watch.
The Dolphins want to be as healthy as possible in the second half of this crucial season, to give themselves a chance to see what they have built.
The good news is that most of this scene could take place at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins finished with four of their final five games of the season at home.
They could then get home-field advantage in the two-game AFC playoff series (group stage playoff and AFC championship).
That could mean six of their final seven games before the Super Bowl will be at Hard Rock Stadium, where they are 10-2 under coach Mike McDaniel.
And it all starts with good health, or the best health possible.
This helps to better understand what is at stake here and why good health plays such an important role.
The Dolphins need to have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs so they can avoid places like Kansas City, Buffalo, Cincinnati or any other venue besides Hard Rock Stadium.
As it stands, they have given themselves the best chance of being healthy during the most important part of the season.
If they have to go on the road, that’s what must be done.
The way things are setting up, if the Dolphins have to leave Hard Rock Stadium for a playoff game or two, their injury management plan is giving them the best chance to have a large number of their key players healthy — Tagovailoa, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, Mostert, Achane, Armstead, right guard Robert Hunt, right tackle Austin Jackson, Howard, Ramsey and fellow cornerback Kader Kohou, safety Jevon Holland, edge rushers Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins — for the most important games of the season.
