Earl Mitchell's calf injury shut him down for a month during training camp, and it appears the calf the
Miami Dolphins starting defensive tackle re-injured in the 12-10 season-opening loss to the
Seattle Seahawks might shut him down for the season.
According to league sources, Mitchell is being placed on injured reserve, which opens up a roster spot on the 53-man roster for the Dolphins. The Dolphins do have the ability to bring one player back to the 53-man roster from injured reserve.
Whether it will be Mitchell, who must now sit out the next six games, will be determined by his rehabilitation, and who else gets placed on injured reserve in the coming weeks.
Mitchell's absence from the Dolphins' defensive line rotation will put added pressure on a defensive tackle unit that was already fairly.
Jordan Phillips, the Dolphins' 2015 second-round pick, replaced Mitchell as Miami's started against the Seahawks and contributed four tackles, half a sack and forced a turnover.
