Brown blow for Dolphins

Brown: Season-ending injury

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The Miami Dolphins have suffered a big blow to their play-off hopes after top running back Ronnie Brown was ruled out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.

Brown led the Dolphins' now famed Wildcat formation, and there may be less of that on show on Thursday as they take on the Carolina Panthers, which is live on Sky Sports 1 at 1am UK time Friday morning.

The Pro Bowl rusher has had his problems with injuries before, as he missed the last nine games in 2007 because of a serious knee injury.

Brown hurt his right foot in Sunday's tight victory over Tampa Bay and although the Dolphins hoped he could return this season, a visit to a specialist has ruled him out for the rest of the campaign.

The Dolphins have more than adequate cover in the form of the experienced Ricky Williams, who topped the NFL rushing charts in 2002, but Brown is still a huge loss given the emphasis the team puts on the running game.

Rushing attack

Miami are fourth in the league in rushing and only 30th in passing, and Brown was also the operator of their famed Wildcat offensive formation, and they may now have to use that form of attack less with Brown missing.

Brown was on pace for his best ever season this year after rushing for 648 yards and eight touchdowns so far, and his injury also comes at a bad time with his contract due to expire at the end of the season.

Williams has also been flying this season with 558 yards at a career-best average 5.3 yards per carry, but as a 32-year-old taking on a double workload may not help his own fitness.

Back-up Patrick Cobbs was also lost to a season-ending injury last month and the next in line is now 2008 draft pick Lex Hilliard, who has not yet run with the ball in the NFL.

Fifth-year pro Brown had responded to his knee injury in superb fashion, rushing for 916 yards and 10 TDs last year to earn his first Pro Bowl selection.

Pat White may step in to marshal the Wildcat offence in Brown's absence, but Brown's rushing ability made him the perfect man for that job, and it remains to be seen how Tony Sparano reorganises his team's style of play.

To replace Brown on their roster the Dolphins have signed safety Nate Ness from their practice squad.