Richard Marshall Likely Out Sunday, Randy Starks Returns to Practice

The Miami Dolphins will face their AFC East division rivals New York Jets for the second time in 2012, looking to even the season series after losing to the Jets in Week 3. However, the team will be playing their third straight contest without starting cornerback Richard Marshall.

Marshall missed the Dolphins' Week 5 win over the Cincinnati Bengals and the team's Week 6 victory over the St. Louis Rams with a back injury. Marshall and the team had hoped that two additional weeks of rehab work would have the cornerback ready to return to his role opposite Sean Smith. According to a Armando Salguero report today, Marshall is going to miss Jets week.

With Marshall out, Nolan Carroll will continue to start opposite Smith, while second year defensive back Jimmy Wilson will likely continue to play the nickel-corner role.

The team did welcome defensive tackle Randy Starks back to practice today. Starks, who has been a dominating force up the middle of the defensive line this season, was excused from practice yesterday for "non-football reasons."

The Dolphins are currently in second place in the AFC East, a half game behind the New England Patriots. The Jets are tied with the Buffalo Bills a half game further back. The Dolphins are looking to move above .500 this late in the season for the first time since 2007. The Jets, meanwhile, are attempting to climb back up to the even mark ahead of their bye next week.