Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Laremy Tunsil was a surprise inactive on Sunday after the team announced that he injured his ankle in pregame warmups. As it turns out, they may have been trying to spare the rookie some embarrassment.
ESPN reports that Tunsil actually suffered the ankle injury when he slipped while getting out of the shower. It is said to have swelled up badly enough that he could not play in Miami’s 30-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
And the Dolphins could have used him. With both Tunsil and starting left tackle Branden Albert out with ankle injuries, Ryan Tannehill was sacked a whopping six times. Miami also rushed for just 51 yards as a team, though they did get starting center Mike Pouncey back from his hip injury.
The Dolphins are off to a 1-4 start and simply cannot catch a break. This is actually the second time this year we have heard of a player being held out because of an unusual pregame mishap, but at least the previous one happened during the preseason. Miami is in enough trouble as it is. Losing another starter for any extended period of time would only make things worse.
