As expected, the Miami Dolphins will be without inside linebacker Channing Crowder for Sunday’s 1 p.m. regular-season opener at Buffalo.
Crowder, battling a groin injury, had been listed as questionable on Friday’s final injury report of the week, but word came late Saturday afternoon that Crowder was out and did not fly with the team.
Ex-Charger Tim Dobbins, making his Dolphins debut, will take Crowder’s place in the starting lineup. Former Cowboy Bobby Carpenter, signed Monday after the Rams released him, is expected to play on third-down packages.
Entering his sixth NFL season out of Florida, Crowder is coming off surgery to repair of broken foot suffered on the second play of a Game 15 loss against the Texans last season. Crowder missed three other games in their entirety, also battling a shoulder injury at midseason, continuing a frustrating career trend.
Crowder has not practiced since Aug. 17 and hasn’t played since the first quarter of the preseason, Aug. 14 against the Bucs.