Dolphins DeVante Parker likely out on Sunday

The Miami Dolphins were hoping for big things from their first round draft pick DeVante Parker. Thus far through seven games Parker has four receptions for 49 yards. In fact if you look up the stats on NFL.com you have to go all the way to page six of the receivers list to find him. According to FoxSports, Parker isn’t going to play this week.

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Parker missed a lot of time during the off-season recovering from his foot surgery and it appears that he will almost assuredly miss this weeks game against the Buffalo Bills. Parker was carted off the sidelines last week in New England with a foot injury. The same foot he had surgically repaired. Reports from Parker say that the injury is just scar tissue. Still, he missed all of practice this week and will return, if everything goes o.k. next week.

Parker has been underutilized but a lot of that has to do with the fact that he has missed so much time and it’s not always easy for receivers to make an immediate impact in their first NFL season. There are a lot of exceptions but Parker isn’t one of them.

The Dolphins were hoping for a big season from Parker and the other wide-receivers. Kenny Stills has had an extremely quiet season after the Dolphins traded Dannelle Ellerbe and a 3rd round pick to the Saints for the speedy receiver. Still’s problems can be pointed at the lack of effort Miami has to get the ball down field where Stills is dangerous.

Miami did get lucky with Rishard Matthews who after complaining about his future in Miami and asking for a trade in March has become a reliable target for Ryan Tannehill. He leads the team in touchdowns with four. Greg Jennings, the teams veteran free agent signing at the position, has been disappointing as well but with Parker out it’s likely he sees an increase in playing time this week.

The Dolphins face a critical game this Sunday against the Bills with the loser looking at an almost impossible trek to the playoff talk. As it stands the Dolphins are still in post-season discussions but the play on the field has to improve on both sides of the ball and it needs to be done quickly. Right now it’s all talk but if the team expects to be among the teams fighting for one of the two wild card spots, they can’t afford to lose.

The Dolphins will kick-off in Orchard Park, NY on Sunday at 1:00. Without DeVante Parker.