### Quick Thursday Dolphins update, updated at 1 p.m.: Cortland Finnegan was practicing this morning in the portion open to the media, but his status for Monday remains in question. Finnegan was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday and said he isn't sure whether his injured ankle will be healed enough to allow him to play Monday. He's still not 100 percent but told me Wednesday that the ankle is feeling a lot better....
Also from the injury report: Charles Clay, JaWuan James, Mike Wallace and Daryn Colledge also were limited Thursday. Wallace has a chest injury but plans to play Monday. James suffered a stinger in his neck on Sunday but said he could have gone back in the game.
Jamar Taylor said he wants to get back quickly, but the Dolphins didn't allow him to practice Wednesday or Thursday because of his separated shoulder. He's going through rehab and hopes to return within two weeks but won't play Monday. Jonathan Freeny also remains out with a hamstring injury.
### Beating the 2-9 Jets twice over the next five weeks shouldn’t be too much to ask of the Dolphins, considering New York has been outscored, 303-177, ranks last in the league in passing, has the NFL’s fewest takeaways (seven), has allowed more points than any team except Jacksonville while scoring fewer than any team except the Raiders and Jaguars.
But you can never assume anything in Dolphins-Jets games.
Not only did the Jets cost the Dolphins a playoff spot last year, but the Dolphins have swept the Jets only twice in the past 16 years --- in 2003 and 2009.
“It’s going to be a dog fight every time you play them,” Dolphins defensive tackle Jared Odrick said of Monday night's game at Met Life Stadium.
Said Jets coach Rex Ryan: “Don’t expect to see this team being a typical two-win team. Our team has a lot of pride. ... They are a team we’re excited to play against. Dolphins-Jets has obviously been a strong rivalry for years.”
### Ryan's future in New York is being doomed partly because he doesn't have a quarterback. He admires Ryan Tannehill from a distance.
“The big thing that jumps out at you is Tannehill is running the ball more with the zone read,” Ryan said. “He’s got a pretty good command of that system and it really fits him. He’s always had the talent. He’s got the arm talent. He’s leading the AFC in rushing from the quarterback position. He’s having a heck of a year.”
### I asked Ryan what most impresses him about the Dolphins. He ran through a list of things.
“They’re really an outstanding team; this is heck of a defense we’re getting ready to play,” he said. “You’ve got the usual suspects. Cameron Wake, the [Olivier] Vernon kid. Brent Grimes has been special for them. The addition of [Louis] Delmas and the [Reshad] Jones kid at safety are playing really well.
“I’ve always been a big fan of [Mike] Pouncey – him and his brother both. It looks kind of funny with him not over the ball, [because] he's playing guard, but he’s doing a great job. And Lamar Miller is averaging [4.9] yards a carry. He’s really been impressive. I love the way [Jarvis] Landry plays –-- a rookie but plays like a vet; he’s physical. Seems like [Brian] Hartline has been there since the Don Shula days. All he does is make plays. And you’ve got the speed burner Mike Wallace outside. It’s a group I’ve really been impressed with, the team top to bottom.”
### After watching Michael Vick produce a 27.5 quarterback rating in a 38-3 drubbing by the Bills on Monday, the Jets are going back to Geno Smith, who has the league’s lowest passer rating among qualifiers (67.4) with seven touchdowns and 10 picks.
“We want to get Geno another opportunity to show what he can do,” Ryan said.
### WQAM’s Joe Rose asked Al Golden who’s responsibility it is when players don’t come out fired up for a game (which seemed to be a problem against Virginia).
“It's my job,” he said. “It's my responsibility. I didn't do a good enough job last week following the Florida State game getting us focused on what we need to do. It's not even a debate.”
But then Golden disputed the notion that UM wasn’t ready to play.
### Rose asked if a loss like Saturday’s hurts recruiting.
“No,” Golden said. “A lot of guys want to come to the University of Miami and help us. Teams at the top, there's not a lot of opportunities to be impact players. Guys know they can help us and help us get it turned” around.
### Dwyane Wade, who has missed seven games in a row with a hamstring injury, said he hopes to play in the Heat’s next game, Sunday night at the Knicks.
### Danny Granger, back from a hamstring injury, has played just two games and 27 minutes for the Heat, and Erik Spoelstra confirmed today that his lack of playing time recently is a coaching decision.
“He’s on my mind,” Spoelstra said. “It’s still very early.”
Twitter: @flasportsbuzz... Happy Thanksgiving!
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