Dolphins face life without Cameron Wake

Forget about the Miami Dolphins blowout loss to the New England Patriots Thursday night it’s Cameron Wake the team is going to miss. Wake suffered an Achilles injury during the game that will likely sideline him the rest of the season and all of the off-season. Welcome to the 2015 Miami Dolphins season. One that we thought couldn’t get worse.

More from Dolphins News

• 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
• Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
• 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
• Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal
• The Miami Dolphins should not take a running back in the draft

The Dolphins struggled offensively against the Patriots and in doing so left the defense worn out on the field. Miami’s defense managed to keep the Patriots offense at bay most of the night but too many three and outs eventually cost them the game. You simply can’t give the Patriots opportunities to score. For all the disappointment on offense and the solid play most of the game from the defense, it’s Cameron Wake that is bogarting the talk on Friday morning.

Wake got his 7th sack of the season on Thursday but it’s likely his last one. The Dolphins will await test results this morning but the mood in the locker room was somber when his name came up. Miami is preaching the “next man up” mentality and luckily they have the depth at defensive end to fill that hole.

The task will now fall on the shoulders and pass rushing ability of Derrick Shelby and Terrence Fede both players are promising youngsters who will now get far more playing time on Sunday’s. The Dolphins have a week and two days to get ready for a trip to Buffalo then will head to Philadelphia to complete their three in a row road trip.

Wake is a leader on the field and off the field in the locker room. He was a big reason expectations were high entering the season. Paired next to Ndamukong Suh, the Dolphins were supposed to have a formidable defensive front. Through the first four weeks fans and the team did not see that level of play but over the last three weeks they vastly improved. Even last night.

Despite the score of last nights game, Miami can take comfort in knowing that the defense stepped up but were put in bad positions throughout the game thanks to turnovers by the offense and a safety that put the defense immediately back on the field.

In his absence, Shelby played well enough to give fans reason to believe that the pressure from the left side of the line will continue. Shelby will be the primary defense end replacing Wake on game days.

"“I would feel horrible, and I know his teammates would, too, if that’s the case,” Dolphins interim head coach Dan Campbell said. “We’ll see what happens with this. But if you lost a guy like Cam it would hurt.” – via ESPN‘s James Walker."

For now, players are praying that this is not a worse case scenario. Michael Thomas and Terrence Fede both stated to media after the game that they were praying for good news but both seemed more or less understanding that it would be a stretch to believe it’s not serious.

The Dolphins will need to replace a huge playmaker with game changing ability but such is life in the NFL.

Miami also suffered injuries by right tackle Ja’Wuan James, a toe injury that took him out of the game early, and DeVante Parker injured the same foot he had surgically repaired this off-season. Both players are not expected to miss an extended period of time.