Zach Thomas
DAVIE, Fla. – Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas has been ruled out for his fourth consecutive game and will not play at Pittsburgh on Monday night.
Coach Cam Cameron also said defensive end Matt Roth (groin) and running back Jesse Chatman (ankle) were day to day.
Since Thomas suffered a concussion in September, the seven-time Pro Bowl player has missed five games. Thomas, 34, has said he hopes to return to the winless Dolphins sometime this season.
Thomas missed two games in September. In October, he was involved in a car crash after a loss to the New England Patriots. He suffered whiplash and recurring migraines.
"It’s just something we have to deal with," Cameron said. "I don’t really look at it any other way. I know he’s doing everything he can to stay in the condition if, in fact, he gets to the point where he can come back. He’s in the meetings, he’s involved in the practice and all those things. Just like I told him, let’s not get ahead of ourselves."
Cameron said Thomas was, "doing everything but practising." Thomas did not speak with reporters.
"The status – it has not changed – with migraines, those kinds of things," Cameron said. "I think he’s made it clear where he stands and we are on the same page."
Although Chatman had a noticeable limp during Friday’s practice, Cameron said he was not ready to completely rule out the running back who has averaged 91.6 yards rushing per game.
"It could come a long way by tomorrow," Cameron said. "We’ve got a significant practice tomorrow and a walkthrough on Sunday. So we’ve still got some time."
Cameron would not commit to starting running back Ricky Williams, who recently returned to the Dolphins after serving a 1½-year suspension, if Chatman could not play Monday.
"He had another practice that was solid and we’ll wait and see what tomorrow brings," Cameron said. "Now he’s had consecutive practices. We don’t have to make any decisions today. We don’t have to make any decisions tomorrow. We’ll just continue to take it one day at a time, see how he feels as the week goes along, then we’ll make a decision, probably a game-time decision."
Williams has tested positive for marijuana at least four times since Miami acquired him in 2002. He rushed for 3,225 yards in the 2002-03 seasons after being traded to the Dolphins. Williams retired in 2004, but returned to the Dolphins in 2005, when he ran for 743 yards alternating with Ronnie Brown, who is out for the season with a torn knee ligament.
"I’m going to err on the side of caution because it’s easy, in these cases, to get ahead of yourself," Cameron said. "So why do that? Again, (Williams) had a solid practice and we’ll see how it goes tomorrow."
Williams said he would be ready to play with last-minute notice, if necessary.
"We’re professionals here," Williams said. "We’re paid to get ready to play and that’s my job."
Source: Dolphins’ Thomas ruled out against Steelers
