The Sports Xchange

DAVIE, Fla. — Wide receiver DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins’ the first-round pick from Louisville, missed practice Monday and Wednesday because of pain in his surgically-repaired left foot.

Parker, who has had two surgeries on the foot in the last 15 months, said the problem was due to scar tissue. And he mentioned another possible cause.

“They said I had like an extra bone growing in my foot,” Parker said, “so that’s probably where that’s coming from, too.”

Parker, who had surgery in August 2014 to repair a broken bone and again in June to re-insert a screw, has four receptions for 49 yards, which makes him last on the team in receptions.

–Miami is in the midst of playing four of five games on the road, a stretch that began with their 38-10 victory at Tennessee three weeks ago and includes last week’s 36-7 loss at New England.

Buffalo (3-4) is the next game on the list followed by next week’s matchup at Philadelphia (3-4). This part of the schedule could either elevate or doom Miami’s slim wildcard hopes.

Miami is 2-2 on the road this season, but the combined records of the teams (Washington and Tennessee) the Dolphins have beaten on the road is 4-10.

–Defensive end Chris McCain, who was changed from linebacker when interim coach Dan Campbell took over in Week 4, could see more action as a pass rusher this week at Buffalo. With defensive end Cam Wake (Achilles) out for the season, the Dolphins need to generate a pass rush and that’s McCain’s specialty.

But McCain, the second-year undrafted player from California, has been inactive for the three games under Campbell. McCain probably will play behind starter Derrick Shelby and reserve Terrence Fede.

NOTES: Defensive end Derrick Shelby will be under pressure to produce a pass rush as he fills in for defensive end Came Wake (Achilles) for the remainder of the season. Shelby is valued as a reserve pass rusher, but now that he’s in a starting role his production will be more closely scrutinized against the run and pass.

… Punter Matt Darr, the undrafted rookie from Tennessee, leads the NFL in punting at 50.0 yards per punt. Darr has been Miami’s most productive rookie so far this season. … Running back Jay Ajayi (ribs) must come off the injured reserve/eligible to return list next week or go to season-long injured reserve, but there’s question as to whether he would be on the 46-man active gameday roster. Miami already has running backs Lamar Miller, Damien Williams and Jonas Gray on the gameday roster. There’s probably no use for another RB, especially one who doesn’t excel on special teams. … Tight end Jordan Cameron (19 receptions, 257 yards, one touchdown) must pick up his role in the offense. Cameron, a Pro Bowl selection in 2013, has been low key since joining the Dolphins. He’s got five games with 34 or fewer receiving yards and hasn’t had more than four receptions in a game. … Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh (19 tackles, two sacks) must be more disruptive against the run and pass with DE Cam Wake (Achilles) sidelined for the season. Suh has had a couple of disruptive games, but overall he’s been docile relative to what he’s showed in his previous five NFL seasons. On a related note, it’ll be interesting to see whether the Dolphins move Suh more frequently to have him next to RDE Olivier Vernon. One of the staples of the front four previously was having Suh and Wake on the same side. … Right tackle Jason Fox, who started two games at the position last season and two games at left tackle this season, will face Buffalo defensive end Mario Williams this week, as he has replaced right tackle Ja’Wuan James (toe). … Right guard Dallas Thomas could be shifted to right tackle to replace Ja’Wuan James (toe), according to interim coach Dan Campbell. Thomas has played right guard, left guard and right tackle. … Quarterback Matt Moore (broken nose), who missed Monday’s practice, returned on Wednesday. Moore sustained a broken nose about two weeks ago when WR Kenny Stills accidentally stuck his elbow through Moore’s facemask on a fake handoff. Moore had surgery Friday.