Bears' Marshall Takes On Former Team, Dolphins' Moreno Placed On IR
By Abraham Gutierrez
One of the oldest and most overused clichés in the National Football League is that "Injuries are part of the game". In the case of the (2-3) Miami Dolphins, that sentiment is a painful reality, as reports indicate that running back Knowshon Moreno will miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.
After missing two games with a dislocated elbow, Moreno's season came to a screeching halt in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers. After signing a one-year deal with the Dolphins this NFL offseason, the 27-year-old from the Bronx, New York, was placed on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday morning due to a torn ACL.
Moreno, who signed a contract worth $3.275 million before the start of the 2014 NFL season, will become an unrestricted free agent in March. The former 12th overall pick played in three games for the Miami Dolphins this season, tallying 148 yards on 31 carries for an average of 4.8 yards per rush and a score.
Moreno was also Miami's best receiving option out of the backfield, as he registered 60 catches for 548 yards and three touchdowns last year as a member of the Denver Broncos. Confirmed reports state that he suffered the knee injury during the third quarter of Sunday's game, and coincidentally, it's the same ACL injury he suffered back in 2011.
That leaves Miami, who ranks sixth in the league in rushing yards per game (136.2), with running backs Lamar Miller, Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas in the current depth chart. Playing in his third season out of the University of Miami, the former Killian High School standout is having his best season as an NFL pro.
Miller leads the team with 330 yards on 63 carries and three touchdowns, to go along with 15 catches for 93 yards and an aerial score. His best effort this season came in Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs defense when he rushed for 108 yards on 15 carries and four catches for 24 yards.
His projected backup, Williams, has yet to find his grove, as he trails quarterback Ryan Tannehill (16 rushes for 102 yards) in the rushing department. The rookie of out Oklahoma comes into Week 7 of the 2014 NFL season with 39 yards on 12 carries, but has yet to reach pay dirt once this season.
For the (3-3) Chicago Bears, the biggest news entering this week, pertaining to the showdown against the Dolphins, is Brandon Marshall taking on his former team. The ninth-year wide receiver out of Central Florida spent two forgettable seasons as a member of the Fins (2010-11).
In 2010, Marshall registered the second lowest career numbers for receiving yards and touchdowns with 1,014 and 3 respectively. The following season, 6-foor-4, 230-pound wide out bounced back with 1,214 yards and 6 scores, but that still was not enough for avoid being traded by new head coach Joe Philbin.
Concerned with Marshall's strong personality while trying to implement a new program, the five-time NFL Pro Bowler was traded to the Chicago Bears for a pair of third-round picks in 2012 and 2013.
For more Dolphins news and updates, visit Dolphins Central.
Abe Gutierrez is a criminal justice admin whose love for sports led him to become a writer and editor. His expertise make him a valued addition to Examiner.com and its partners. His work can be found on Examiner.com. .