Dolphins Prepare For Packers And Hope To See Moreno Back On The Field
By Abraham Gutierrez
With the mid-way point of the 2014 NFL season fast approaching, personnel depth and player availability will both be contributing factors in determining which teams punch their ticket into the National Football League's postseason. As the (3-2) Green Bay Packers and the (2-2) Miami Dolphins continue to prepare for their Week 6 showdown at Sun Life Stadium Sunday afternoon, there are a number of headlines to note regarding each team's roster.
For Miami, the return of injured running back Knowshon Moreno may come sooner than expected, which is great news considering this team will need all its firepower against the high-scoring Packers. Initially, the former Denver Bronco was expected to miss up to six weeks following an elbow injury suffered in Week 2, but as of this week, there are some encouraging signs.
With Moreno practicing for the first time on Monday, coupled with the fact that the Fins have released back-up running back Orleans Darkwa, one can infer that the former Georgia standout's return may happen as early as Sunday afternoon.
"It's disappointing because you just want to be out there helping your team out, but it's part of the game," he said. "Those things happen. I just have to fight back and do whatever you have to do in the training room to get back on the field, and once you are on the field just do what you have to do."
Moreno, who's missed two games due to the injury, got his stint with the Dolphins off to a great start, leading the NFL with 134 yards following a (33-20) Week 1 win over the New England Patriots. Since being on the shelf, Miami's backups have done a great job picking up the slack, and are responsible for the Fins rushing attack being ranked fifth in the National Football League, averaging 142.2 yards per game this season.
"They are doing their thing," he added when asked about the work guys like Lamar Miller and Damien Williams have done in his absence. "The work they put in throughout the week prepares them for each week to go out, try to have a balanced offense, compete and try to come out with a win. They are doing a good job and everyone is working hard just to get better than we were the last few weeks."
There are also some roster changes to report for Mike McCarthy's Green Bay Packers entering Week 6. On Monday, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, Ted Thompson announced that the team had promoted (wide receiver) Kevin Dorsey to the active roster from the practice squad, signed (cornerback) Tay Glover-Wright to the practice squad and released (tight end) Ryan Taylor.
Dorsey will be brought onboard not for his skills as a wide out but rather for his potential contributions as a member of the special teams unit, reports indicate. The former Maryland standout got the attention of special teams' coordinator Shawn Slocum during the preseason and training camp.
By the end of camp, Dorsey had a number of reps with the Packers' No. 1 punt return, kickoff return and kickoff coverage teams. During his time as the team's second-string kickoff returner, Dorsey averaged 22.4 yards in five attempts, including a 27-yard effort in the process.
The former seventh round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft spent his entire rookie campaign on injured reserve. Through five weeks this season, Dorsey continued to work hard as part of Green Bay's practice squad and will have a chance to shine against Miami's less-than stellar special teams bunch come Sunday.
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. .