Bye week coming at right time for Miami Dolphins

With an ever-growing list of injuries, the bye week is coming at the right time for the Miami Dolphins.

Injuries are a reality for every team in the NFL. But heading into Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers, the Miami Dolphins added three starting offensive lineman (Laremy Tunsil, Ted Larsen and Ja’Wuan James) to an injury list that still notably includes quarterback Ryan Tannehill.

During the game, the Dolphins’ injury list grew longer. Wide receiver DeVante Parker (shoulder), wide receiver Jakeem Grant (Achilles), cornerback Bobby McCain (concussion) and running back Kenyan Drake (shoulder) left the game, though Drake was able to return.

Grant has reportedly avoided a tear of his Achilles, but McCain is in concussion protocol and Parker has been declared week-to-week with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder. All three will have a bye week to get healthy, and the week off is coming at a good time for the Dolphins

During his Monday press conference, Dolphins’ head coach Adam Gase acknowledged doubt about being able to field 46 healthy players if the team had a game this week.

"“I don’t even know if we’d have enough for 46 (active players) this week. It’s probably the right time. It’s a long, grinding season. We wanted a late bye. I’d rather have it now than Week 4. I’ve got no complaints about it.”"

Teams can always find complaint with the placement of their bye week, be it too early or too late. The Dolphins are obviously on the late end of that spectrum, with Week 12 the last week with byes. But Gase is not complaining about it and he gave the players the rest of this week off.

Even with three losses in their last four games, the Dolphins are in the AFC playoff mix at 5-5. Getting players healthy over the bye week can only help that postseason push down the stretch, if they have one in them.