Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard suffered a left foot injury during Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. He was carted off the field in the team's opening defensive series and taken to the locker room for further evaluation. Howard's shoe was off, and he was unable to put any weight on his foot. The extent of his injury is still uncertain as he is officially listed as questionable to return.

In Howard's absence, Eli Apple stepped in as his replacement, initially taking over as the boundary cornerback in the nickel package before later assuming boundary duties in the base package. Howard had been dealing with hip and thumb injuries but was still able to start the game.

Unfortunately for Miami, they were also without running back Raheem Mostert in their critical matchup against the Ravens. Mostert, who had been nursing knee and ankle injuries, was listed as questionable and ultimately ruled out. His absence posed a significant blow to the Dolphins' offense, which was already missing wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.

The absence of both Mostert and Waddle meant that the Dolphins were without two key offensive playmakers who have combined for 2,213 total yards from scrimmage this season. Mostert, in particular, has been having a remarkable year at age 31, setting franchise single-season records with 18 rushing touchdowns and 21 total touchdowns. He also surpassed 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career.

In Mostert's absence, rookie running back De'Von Achane took on a larger role, with veteran Jeff Wilson Jr. providing support. The Dolphins also have undrafted rookie Chris Brooks as a physical option in the backfield. However, the absence of Mostert undoubtedly had an impact on the team's offensive strategy.

On the defensive side, the Dolphins surprisingly made defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah a healthy inactive prior to the game against the Ravens. This decision raised eyebrows, with Ogbah even tweeting "Wow lol" in response to the news. The team opted to elevate outside linebacker Melvin Ingram from the practice squad, who played a significant role in rotating with starting edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Andrew Van Ginkel.

As for the Ravens, they were also dealing with injuries of their own. Safety Kyle Hamilton was unable to play due to a knee injury, after making a significant impact in their previous game against the San Francisco 49ers. The Ravens were further affected during the game when cornerback Marlon Humphrey suffered a calf injury, depleting their secondary.

The Dolphins' loss of Howard and Mostert, coupled with the Ravens' injuries, presented challenges for both teams in their pursuit of victory. The outcome of the game would likely hinge on the depth and adaptability of the remaining players on each team's roster.

As of now, the status of Xavien Howard's injury remains uncertain, and the Dolphins will need to assess the impact of Raheem Mostert's absence on their offensive game plan.