Kenny Stills will cross another NFL stadium off his list on Sunday when the Miami Dolphins play against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
It’s one of three stadiums the sixth-year wide receiver has yet to play in during his pro football career, with the others being San Francisco’s Levi’s Stadium and Oakland’s Alameda Coliseum.
But Lambeau still has a special place in the Stills family. After all, Kenny Stills’ dad Ken Stills played as a safety for the Packers for five seasons.
Kenny Stills’ dad, along with his two brothers, will be in attendance on Sunday.
“I definitely think he’s rooting for the Dolphins,” Stills said, “but he played there and I’m sure they’re doing something for their guys. Maybe he’ll have a split jersey, half-Dolphins, half-Packers.”
Kenny Stills said he and his dad don’t talk much about his father’s football career — one that lasted six years from 1985-1990.
But there is one play that Kenny Stills can immediately recall from his dad’s time in the league.
It was Nov. 3, 1985. The Packers played host to the Chicago Bears. After a Chicago first-down run went for minimal gain, Stills leveled Bears fullback Matt Suhey, garnering a personal foul call and immediate disapproval from his teammates.
“If you go on YouTube, there is a video of him kind of cheap-shotting somebody after the play — Bears-Packers rivalry,” Stills said. “We don’t really talk too much about NFL stuff, but I’m sure he has some great memories.”
The younger Stills, meanwhile, is hoping to create more memories of his own this season. He took a positive first step by playing in Miami’s 13-6 win over the New York Jets while dealing with a groin injury. He caught the one pass thrown his way for 19 yards.
‘Still some hope’
In addition to football, Stills gave his thoughts on Tuesday’s midterm election, one that saw the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives and Florida have three state-wide elections fall into recount territory.
“There’s still some hope,” Stills said Thursday. “I wish things had gone a different way; but I like I said, there’s still some hope.
“I guess we’ll see what comes from these re-counts if they happen, but I’m definitely encouraged by the amount of people that responded to me and what I was doing trying to give out tickets to get people out to go out and vote. Just the amount from my friends and family and people that I’ve reached out to, people that are getting involved and using their voice.”
Injury update
Dolphins coach Adam Gase anticipates that starting offensive tackles Laremy Tunsil and Ja’Wuan James will be game-time decisions Sunday.
Another offensive lineman’s status, however, is looking more bleak.
Left guard Ted Larsen is doubtful for Sunday’s game while dealing with a neck injury. Larsen was off to the side on an exercise bike for the majority of the practice period open to media.
“We didn’t do as much with him this week,” Gase said of Larsen. “We’ve got to get him some rest and get him recovered.”
Gase said he has multiple scenarios lined up with his offensive line depending on who will be active Sunday.
“If you’ve got a pulse, you’re in the mix,” Gase said. “We’re out of guys.”
With the offensive line depth thinning, the Dolphins promoted Isaas Asiata to the 53-man roster on Friday and waived linebacker Martrell Spaight.
As for the rest of the team’s injuries heading into Sunday:
▪ Linebacker Kiko Alonso did not practice on Friday with an ankle injury and is listed as questionable. Tight end A.J. Derby and wide receiver Jakeem Grant are also questionable.
▪ Defensive end Charles Harris, who was a limited participant in practice the last two days, has been ruled out. He will miss his fifth consecutive game.
This story was originally published November 09, 2018 1:56 PM.