The Dolphins will not have starting strong-side LB Koa Misi (neck) or weak-side LB Jelani Jenkins (groin) tonight against the Bengals. Both players are inactive. Four other questionable starters will play, though: MLB Kiko Alonso (hamstring), DE Jason Jones (ankle), S Reshad Jones (knee) and CB Xavien Howard (quad) are all active. The Dolphins will also reportedly replace CB Byron Maxwell in the starting lineup with Tony Lippett.

The Dolphins will have all 3 of their usual starting LBs active after Jelani Jenkins (ankle), Koa Misi (abdomen) and Kelvin Sheppard (hamstring) entered the weekend questionable. Jenkins looks the most iffy for playing time after sitting out last week. All will bring risk to the game, with Sheppard looking most worth the gamble in your IDP lineup because of his recent production.

All 3 Dolphins starting LBs are questionable for Sunday's game against the Jets. Jelani Jenkins (ankle) looks iffiest after spending Wednesday on the sideline and putting in limited workouts the next 2 days. He missed Week 11. Koa Misi (abdomen) and Kelvin Sheppard (hamstring) each put in limited workouts all 3 days. We'll update all 3 when the Sunday morning inactives come out.

Dolphins LB Koa Misi (abdomen) is active today against the Cowboys. Miami will miss OLB Jelani Jenkins, however. Kelvin Sheppard remains the top IDP option among Dolphins LBs this week.

Dolphins weak-side LB Jelani Jenkins is doubtful for Sunday's game against Dallas because of the left ankle he injured in last week's win at Philly. LB Koa Misi is questionable with an abdominal injury. He sat out Wednesday and Thursday practices before returning to a limited Friday workout. The situation turns LB Kelvin Sheppard into an upside IDP sleeper and can only help the outlook for Cowboys RB Darren McFadden (who's dealing with his own groin injury).

The Dolphins list LBs Jelani Jenkins (foot) and Koa Misi (hamstring) as doubtful for Sunday's trip to New England. IDP owners should make alternate plans for either player. Jason Trusnik will start and could line up in place of either guy. He's an OK down-the-list option if you're reaching but not an exciting fantasy option.

Dolphins LB Dannell Ellerbe suffered a hip injury in Sunday's opener that will keep him out the rest of the season.  Miami placed him on IR on Monday.  MLB starter Koa Misi also aggravated an ankle sprain in Sunday's game and was in a walking boot afterward.  The team doesn't yet know how long he'll be out.  And the other OLB starter, Philip Wheeler, missed Sunday's game with a thumb injury.  Jason Trusnick started in Wheeler's place and moved to the middle when Misi left.  Jelani Jenkins joined him after Ellerbe's injury, with Johnathan Freeny coming in for limited snaps.  The team signed Kelvin Sheppard on Monday.  Don't chase any of them in your IDP league.  We'll keep an eye on Jenkins, though, to see if he can capitalize on the opportunity.

The Dolphins have cleared up their LB situation for at least a week by ruling strong-side LB Philip Wheeler out for the opener against New England.  Wheeler has been dealing with a thumb injury for 2 weeks.  Miami figures to start Jason Trusnick in his place, but Koa Misi could regain passing-down duties -- which he lost to Wheeler this preseason.  We're still not much interested in any of them for IDP purposes.  If you need 1, go for Ellerbe first.

The Dolphins have spent big on another free-agent LB. Former Raiders OLB Philip Wheeler agreed to a reported 5-year, $26 million deal with the team. He follows new MLB Dannell Ellerbe. Just as Ellerbe's arrival marked the end of MLB Karlos Dansby's term, Wheeler could do the same for WLB Kevin Burnett. Dansby and Burnett each played more than 1,000 snaps last season, compared with SLB Koa Misi's 559. Misi did miss 2 games, but the other 2 starters still clearly dominated him in playing time. The Dolphins didn't throw big money at Wheeler to make him a 2-down player. Wheeler is coming off a tremendous season in his 1st shot at starting full time. Pro Football Focus rated him the 6th-best 4-3 OLB in the league, #5 in coverage and 2nd only to Von Miller (not a fair comparison) in pass rushing. Wheeler played the strong side in Oakland and Indy, but he makes plenty of sense as the weak man for the Dolphins. He should remain a starting-caliber LB in 2013 fantasy football leagues.