Injury updates on Armstead and Wilson. And 6 NFL people weigh on Tua after 2 tough games

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead said he will play Saturday at Buffalo, and running back Jeff Wilson Jr. said a decision on his status will be made closer to game time. Both were listed as questionable for the game, as was quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (knee).

Safeties Eric Rowe (hamstring) and Elijah Campbell (concussion protocol) are out, and receiver River Cracraft (calf) is doubtful for Saturday’s 8:15 game in Ochard Park, New York.

Armstead, already playing through a pectoral injury, also is dealing with a knee issue but plans to keep playing.

Wilson, who left the Chargers game with a hip injury, said he’s not sure if he will play Saturday and “it depends on how I feel. [The Dolphins medical staff] will try to check off every check box. They’ve been real patient, real understanding with me. If I feel like I’m ready I’ll go but they still have to OK that.

“We’ve still got a couple more days to get it right and get it ready. Me and the training staff are doing everything in our power to be back. We’re going to take the next couple days to keep progressing and see where we land.”

He said when he sustained the injury, there was “a lot of pain at the time.”

How much discomfort is there now?

“A little bit but not a lot. We’re moving around. Got out of the pool, on the field. After a day or two, it calmed back down. Wasn’t as serious as we thought. That’s a blessing.”

Does it limit his movements? “Not really. Just a little limited at first. Nothing that’s too alarming or concerning or season ending or I won’t be myself.”

Wilson is averaging 5.4 yards per carry on 44 rushing attempts in five games for the Dolphins since his acquisition from San Francisco.

Whether Wilson can play or not, a big game will be needed from Raheem Mostert, who ran 7 times for 30 (4.3 average) and 11 for 39 yards (3.4 average) in the past two games. “I’m not reading the right holes,” he told CBS-4 after the Chargers game.

TUA FEEDBACK

No surprise here: Tua Tagovailoa’s struggles the past two weeks — after a sterling first eight games of the season — have elicited plenty of reaction this week from those with a national forum.

Some of the feedback, mostly from former players who now work for ESPN:

▪ ESPN’s Marcus Spears, the former Cowboys defensive lineman: “His superpower was anticipation and accuracy and now we’re starting to see defenses take those initial reads away. I [still] think Tua is a good quarterback.”

But Spears said comparisons to the Chargers’ Justin Herbert were “crazy. [Herbert] has got some offensive line deficiencies and he’s able to get off platform and throw the ball at different arm angles. [Conversely], Tua was struggling when all the things weren’t available from an offensive standpoint.”

▪ ESPN’s Domonique Foxworth, the former NFL defensive back and ex-president of the NFL Player Association: “He’s a good quarterback. When the situation is good, he can carry you.”

But the past two weeks have been “exposing a bit of Tua. He’s not going to reach those [Patrick] Mahomes levels, which nobody is going to. You’re expecting a little too much if you expect him to overcome the shortcomings he has. Tua is uncomfortable in the pocket all of a sudden.”

▪ ESPN’s Ryan Clark, the former Steelers safety: “The last two games were the most important for Tua and the Dolphins, and he stunk it up in both games… In both weeks, Tua and the Dolphins have failed. Once again the moment seemed too big.”

▪ ESPN’s Mike Tannenbaum, the former Dolphins executive vice president, was asked by ‘Get Up’ host Mike Greenberg if the Dolphins should give Tagovailoa a $200 million contract extension.

“I wouldn’t do that yet,” Tannenbaum said. “He has to be Drew Brees and why did Drew Brees have a good career as a shorter QB? He had a great offensive line. Terron Armstead is not the same guy. Austin Jackson is on IR. My concern is without an offensive line [playing very well], his play hasn’t been good enough.

“If you are building a team to win the AFC East, you’ve got to win December games in New England, in Buffalo. This is an opportunity to see where you are [Saturday in Buffalo and Jan. 1 at the Patriots].”

(Tagovailoa is under contract through the 2023 season, with the Dolphins having the ability to exercise his fifth-year option for 2024. Some teams give franchise quarterbacks a lucrative extension after three seasons. Tagovailoa is in his third season.)

▪ ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, the former NFL quarterback: “I’m not overly concerned about Tua. I am overly concerned with their [skill players’] inability to get open against [Chargers] man coverage. It’s just as much no one was open as Tua had misses.

“I’ve said this about this Kyle Shanahan/Gary Kubiak offense before:... The quarterback becomes so confident in the play call that sometimes they don’t even see the defense after the snap. When it doesn’t happen, you can get impatient and that’s when you started to see some of the forces from Tua.

“There was no one open [against the Chargers]. He has so much confidence and trust in the scheme and the offense that he was throwing to covered guys.”

▪ ESPN’s Steve Young noted Tagovailoa struggled against the Chargers’ man defense and the 49ers’ zone defense and “all of a sudden, there are multiple kryptonites against the Dolphins.”

THIS AND THAT

▪ As usual, Tagovailoa gathered offensive teammates on an off day on Tuesday, trying to figure out solutions amid the team’s offensive struggles. Tagovailoa runs those meetings and welcomes input from other players.

“Tua’s always tough on himself, [asking] ‘what can I do better?’” center Michael Deiter said. “That leadership is good.”

McDaniel added new wrinkles to the offense this week, according to a player.

▪ ESPN’s Orlovsky has implored the Dolphins to run directly at Bills 192-pound nickel cornerback Taron Johnson, who has manhandled by the Jets in the running game last week.