More than half the Dolphins’ roster will be free agents; where each stands. And injury news

There’s no better way to evaluate players than at high-pressure moments.

And when the Dolphins take the field Sunday at New England in a game with major playoff implications, nearly half the roster will be entering their final month under contract to the team.

And that means those healthy among the team’s 25 impending unrestricted free agents (and two restricted free agents) will be working not only to secure a playoff berth, but also to make a final lasting impression entering the great unknown of the offseason.

What’s at stake for those 25 and where they stand:

RUNNING BACK (3 unrestricted free agents)

A strong case could be made to keep unrestricted free agents Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.

Mostert is making $3.1 million this season, Wilson $1.2 million.

Both have had some very good moments. Mostert is tied for 10th in the league in per-carry average (4.9) and ranks 20th in rushing yards with a career-high 791.

Wilson is averaging a robust 5.2 yards on his 53 carries as a Dolphin.

But if the Dolphins don’t run the ball well during the final two games, and in a potential playoff game, the Dolphins could decide to acquire either a new starter or a new No. 2.

But if a new starter is acquired, he cannot be pricey, because the Dolphins have less than $4 million in cap space, with an ability to carry over another $2.9 million from this season.

So don’t expect a ton of money to be spent on the running back room next season.

This could be as simple as re-signing Mostert and Wilson, keeping restricted free agent Salvon Ahmed, parting with unrestricted free agent Myles Gaskin (10 carries for 26 yards this season) and finding another cheap veteran (or a draft pick) to compete with them.

INSIDE LINEBACKERS (3)

Elandon Roberts and Duke Riley are trying to make the case for the Dolphins to give them a one-year contract for the third year in a row. Same with Sam Eguavoen, who can play inside or outside.

But the inside linebacker group — including Jerome Baker (who’s signed through 2024) — needs to be more impactful.

Pro Football Focus rates Roberts 60th among 85 linebackers, but 37th against the run. The Dolphins value his toughness and run defense, but Roberts has allowed 32 of 37 passes thrown against him to be caught for 279 yards and two touchdowns (a 116.1 passer rating in his coverage area).

Eguavoen has permitted all four passes thrown against him not only to be caught, but to be caught for touchdowns, according to PFF. One of those came Sunday against Green Bay.

Riley, rated 62nd among 85 linebackers, has allowed a 101.1 passer rating in his coverage area (22 for 29 for 169 and a TD). The Dolphins, at least in some games, value his speed and ability to cover running backs. But he played only seven snaps against Green Bay. (Baker’s passing rating against is 106, incidentally.)

Roberts is making $2.75 million this season; Riley’s deal could be worth as much as $3 million. Roberts has played 59 percent of Miami’s defensive snaps, Riley has played 33 percent.

The Dolphins also could decide to move on from one of those players and create an opportunity for third-rounder Channing Tindall, who has played just nine defensive snaps. But for now, the Dolphins believe Roberts and Riley give them a better chance to win than Tindall.

A strong case could be made for adding a top inside linebacker in the draft, but keep in mind that the Dolphins have only five draft picks in April: their own second-rounder, two thirds (their own and New England’s), a sixth-rounder (via the Bears) and their own seventh-rounder.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (2)

Melvin Ingram and Andrew Van Ginkel will be unrestricted free agents.

Ingram, 33, is in the late stages of his career, while Van Ginkel is in his prime.

Ingram has played far more defensive snaps than Van Ginkel this season (453 to 274). But against Green Bay, Van Ginkel played far more defensive snaps than Ingram (33 to 13) .

Van Ginkel figures to explore the market; he likely will have more opportunity for playing time elsewhere. With Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb under contact next year and beyond, Van Ginkel is not going to start here barring injuries.

Though Ingram has six sacks, he has no sacks or tackles in 72 defensive snaps through the past three games. The Dolphins paid him $5 million this season, and that number would seem too high within the Dolphins’ cap constraints, if Miami makes an offer at all.

TIGHT END (2)

There’s seemingly nothing that could happen to extend Mike Gesicki’s tenure here past this season.

Despite his talents as a receiver, he was never a good fit for this offense and has just two receptions (for 24 yards) and seven targets during the past five games and just 26 catches for 298 yards all season.

He will very likely move on and could command a contract in the $10 million-a-year range.

Adam Shaheen, who missed the season with a knee injury, likely will move on, too.

Durham Smythe, Hunter Long and Tanner Conner are under contract for 2023.

WIDE RECEIVERS (2)

Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft, both impending unrestricted free agents, have had their best seasons and seem likely to be invited back on modest deals. Sherfield, who earning $1 million this season, has 28 catches for 387 yards and two touchdowns.

Cracraft, who is earning $965,000, has eight catches for 97 yards (including two touchdowns) but has missed the past three games due to injury.

Unless the Dolphins trade Cedrick Wilson Jr. (who’s due $7 million next season, of which $5 million is guaranteed), it will be difficult to create playing time for talented fourth-rounder Erik Ezukanma. But that likely would not dissuade the Dolphins from keeping Sherfield and Cracraft, who have the trust of the coaching staff.

QUARTERBACK (1)

A decision on whether Teddy Bridgewater gets an offer could be based on how he plays filling in for Tua Tagovailoa on Sunday and potentially beyond.

He played decently in losses to Cincinnati and Minnesota (84.1 and 93.9 passer ratings). Bridgewater has a $6.5 million salary and $6.5 million cap number this season.

Other backup options who are impending free agents include Philadelphia’s Gardner Minshew, the Jets’ Mike White, the Rams’ Baker Mayfield and Carolina’s Sam Darnold.

The hope had been that Skylar Thompson would show enough this season to give the Dolphins enough faith to entrust him with the No. 2 job next season. But he hasn’t; Thompson has a 52.2 passer rating and two interceptions on 52 passes this season.

OFFENSIVE TACKLES (3)

Eric Fisher, Greg Little and Brandon Shell are all set to become unrestricted free agents, and Shell has earned an invitation back.

Fisher, who wasn’t active for the Green Bay game because of a calf injury and remains out, must decide if he wants to be a backup to Terron Armstead at this stage.

Little struggled against the Jets (allowing three sacks) and was adequate against the 49ers, but the Dolphins felt compelled to add Fisher, knowing that Armstead had injury concerns.

Though the Dolphins still see Austin Jackson as their right tackle of the future, Shell has made a strong case to return. He has permitted only two sacks in 404 pass blocking chances, though he also has yielded 31 pressures. PFF rates him 60th among 81 tackles; Little is ranked 81 of 81.

SAFETIES (2)

With a strong finish, Eric Rowe could make the case to return on a team-friendly deal as the No. 3 safety behind Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones (coming off a season-ending ACL injury).

During the past six weeks, the Dolphins have trusted Rowe with considerably more snaps than rookie Verone McKinley III, who started at Detroit (with Rowe a healthy scratch).

Pro Football Focus rates Rowe 75th among 89 safeties, with a 109.3 passer rating allowed in his coverage area (36 completions in 42 targets for 430 yards but no TDs allowed).

Safety and special teams specialist Clayton Fejedelem also is an impending free agent; he has played just 34 defensive snaps.

OTHER POSITIONS (7)

Also impending unrestricted free agents: defensive tackles John Jenkins (who has played 233 defensive snaps as Raekwon Davis’ backup) and Justin Zimmer (41 snaps), cornerback Nik Needham (coming off an October season-ending Achilles tendon injury), defensive lineman/linebacker Trey Flowers (played just 65 defensive snaps before a season-ending foot injury), punter Thomas Morstead (21st in average at 46.4), center/guard Michael Deiter (hasn’t played a snap this season after logging 546 last season) and cornerback Justin Bethel (has been productive on special teams and as a slot corner when needed).

Of that group, Needham likely will be a priority.

Ahmed and safety Elijah Campbell are the team’s restricted free agents, with Miami able to place low tenders on them to retain their rights.

INJURY UPDATE

Tagovailoa (concussion), Terron Armstead (knee, hip, toe, pectoral), Bradley Chubb (hand, ankle), River Cracraft (calf), Alec Ingold (thumb) and Eric Fisher (calf) did not practice on Thursday.

The status of Chubb and Ingold is very much in doubt for Sunday. Amstead hasn’t said this week whether he will continue to play through his injuries, including his newest one (hip). Tagovailoa is very likely out Sunday.

Also, Xavien Howard (knee) and Brandon Shell (shoulder) were added to the injury report and were limited Thursday. Jaelan Phillips, Eric Rowe and Clayton Fejedelem also were limited.