<
>

Dolphins LB Jelani Jenkins will play with broken hand

DAVIE, Fla. -- Few Miami Dolphins players have had worse luck with injuries than starting outside linebacker Jelani Jenkins. He suffered his third -- and perhaps worst -- injury Sunday against the New York Jets, a broken left hand.

Fortunately for Jenkins, he doesn't plan to miss time. The linebacker said Monday the plan is to play with a cast or "club" that goes up his left forearm.

"I'm able to play with it and I know what to expect," Jenkins said. "I will probably have to use my legs more."

This is the third injury for Jenkins through eight games. He also suffered knee and groin injuries that forced him to miss two games. Jenkins has 20 tackles and a pass defense.

"It will be interesting," Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said. "He kind of has to figure out how he's going to operate like this (with a cast). It's one thing to talk about it. I've been around a couple guys who played like that. Some guys handled it well. Some guys it's been tougher, because you can't grab anything."

Here are some other notes from Miami's locker room Monday:

  • Dolphins punter Matt Darr had a big turnover in the second half when he dropped a punt. Darr said that's never happened in his career and took ownership of the mistake. "It's never happened to me and it won't ever happen again," Darr said. "There's no excuse for it."

  • Miami also has two days to decide on the playing future of veteran cornerback Chris Culliver, who is on the physically unable to perform list while recovering from a knee injury. Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said last week that Culliver wasn't ready for a game, but he likely will be activated.

  • The schedule lines up favorably for the Dolphins. Seven of their final eight games are against teams currently without winning records. Miami will travel to play the San Diego Chargers (4-5) on Sunday.