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The Miami Dolphins secondary has struggled this year. It's not a secret, nor is it really a surprise. It's a fact of what the Dolphins have had to deal with all season long. A big part of those struggles is the lack of depth at the position. When starter Richard Marshall was injured, and ultimately placed on injured reserve, the team had to turn to second year player Jimmy Wilson to serve as the nickelback.
Of course, the Dolphins had moved Wilson from cornerback, where he played last season, to safety this year. Now, after weeks of Wilson filling the role, the Dolphins could find themselves looking to fill the hole again. Wilson was injured last week against the New England Patriots, and could miss this week's game against the San Fancisco 49ers.
Wilson's hip injury held him out of practice on Wednesday, while Thursday he was officially listed as "limited." However, according to a report from the Miami Herald's Armando Salguero, Wilson did not participate in any of the practice in which the media was present.
If Wilson is not able to play this week, the Dolphins could have to rely on R.J. Stanford, Bryan McCann, or Nolan Carroll would have to move into the nickel position. Carroll has been starting opposite Sean Smith since the Marshall injury, and could play the edge in the base package, then move inside in a nickel defense, with Stanford filling in on the edge.
The Dolphins play the 49ers at 4:15pm Eastern on Sunday. Both teams will issue their official injury reports later today.