MIAMI GARDENS -- The Miami Dolphins could be without two starters on defense when they face the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night at Lambeau Field.
Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. and cornerback Kendall Fuller are unlikely to play on Thanksgiving night in the quick turnaround following Sunday's win over the New England Patriots.
Walker injured a hamstring in the second quarter against the Patriots and did not return. According to coach Mike McDaniel on Monday, though, the linebacker avoided the worst and shouldn't be out long term.
"I don't see it being extensive time," McDaniel said. "We are short on time (for the Packers game) and so probably will be unlikely for this week, but it didn't seem like one of those long-term situations."
Walker was replaced Sunday by fellow inside linebacker Tyrel Dodson, who was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks Nov. 12. Dodson, who had an interception in the fourth quarter against the Patriots, would be the starter for Walker in Green Bay.
"I just can't say enough about what he's done since he's been here," said McDaniel of Dodson, who came from a similar defensive scheme in Seattle. "Making sure to be prepared for a moment like that sooner than later. And you never know when your number's going to be called. So I think between him and the coaching staff and (linebackers coach Joe Barry), and the rest of the players being on the same page, I thought I'm comfortable because he's made me comfortable by the reps that he's taken in practice."
Fuller is in line to miss a third consecutive game after suffering his second concussion of the season Nov. 11 against the Los Angeles Rams.
McDaniel said the Dolphins' No. 2 concussion is progressing in concussion protocol, without specifying the phase he's in.
"He's probably unlikely for this game, but he's doing better," McDaniel said. "We just take that day by day. He's progressing just fine. It's a little short term here for this Thursday night game."
Without Fuller, Storm Duck took most of the third cornerback reps in nickel packages behind Jalen Ramsey and Kader Kohou. Second-year player Cam Smith also saw action against the Patriots.
The Dolphins activated offensive lineman Isaiah Wynn off the physically-unable-to-perform list Monday.
Wynn reclaims a spot on the team's active roster after a 13-month recovery from a quadriceps injury suffered October 2023 in Philadelphia. The quadriceps ailment also led to knee issues for Wynn, who went through training camp and the first two months of the season on PUP before returning to practice Nov. 13.
Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry said last week Miami left guard Robert Jones has earned the right to keep the starting job at the position.
Before Wynn's injury last season, he won a preseason competition with Jones, current starting right guard Liam Eichenberg and reserve guard Lester Cotton for Miami's starting left guard role in 2023. He played well in his seven games before the season-ending injury.
Cotton was waived Monday to make room for Wynn on the roster. The Dolphins opted to keep undrafted rookie offensive lineman Andrew Meyer on the roster. He has not played in a game this season, while dressing for one and being a healthy inactive in all others.
Miami also has rookie safety Patrick McMorris available for activation from injured reserve for his preseason calf injury. His 21-day practice window since being designated for return closes on Wednesday.
The Dolphins also released long snapper Tucker Addington to sign Zach Triner onto the practice squad.
With starting long snapper Blake Ferguson still on the non-football illness list, Triner becomes the third player at the position Miami has brought onto its practice squad. The idea would be he is elevated to the team's game-day roster for Thursday to handle long-snapping duties after the Dolphins used three available elevations on Addington and Matt Overton before him in the six games Ferguson has missed.