Dolphins without Howard, Alonso, Pouncey, Jenkins, and Williams against Cardinals (Inactive lists)

The Miami Dolphins have announced their inactive players for their Week 14 game against the Arizona Cardinals, and there really are not a lot of surprises on the list. The team had hope that some of these players may be able to come back from various injuries, but those were seen as long shots for the most part and none of them panned out.

The Dolphins have inactivated cornerback Xavien Howard, linebacker Kiko Alonso, center Mike Pouncey, linebacker Jelani Jenkins, tight end Thomas Duarte, wide receiver Rashawn Scott, and defensive end Mario Williams. That means at least four, and possibly five, starters are not going to be able to play in the game.

The Dolphins were looking at the possibility of Howard, who has missed the last eight games, coming back this week if he felt his twice surgically repaired knee was ready for game action. Howard said this week that he has been running forward and backwards, but it is cutting and side-to-side motion that is still a question mark. Head coach Adam Gase seemed to indicate that the decision of whether or not Howard would be available would come down to how Howard felt on Sunday. Apparently, he does not feel he is ready.

Alonso was another player who, it was hoped, would be able to play, but the hamstring injury that slowed him last week against the Baltimore Ravens never seemed to get better and it was always likely the team was going to be without their starting middle linebacker this week.

Pouncey continues to rehab a hip injury that has forced him out of action late in this season after it forced him to miss the games early in the year as well. Jenkins has been dealing with a hand and a knee injury, while Williams has an ankle issue.

The Cardinals inactives list has wide receiver Marquis Bundy, cornerback Tharold Simon, safety Tyrann Mathieu, guard Cole Toner, defensive tackle Olsen Pierre, defensive tackle Ed Stinson, and defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche.

The Dolphins and Cardinals kickoff at 1pm ET.