Veteran Anthony Fasano will start at tight end when the Dolphins face the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
This will be Fasano's sixth start of the season. He started four times alongside DeVante Parker when the Dolphins opened on offense with two tight ends, and got the nod in a one-tight-end alignment against Tennessee on Oct. 8.
Fasano spent two seasons with the Chiefs (2013-14) after his first stint with the Dolphins (2008-12). He has four touchdowns in three career games against Kansas City, two in 2008 and two in 2011.
Branch back: Defensive end Andre Branch will be back in the starting lineup after missing the game against Buffalo last Sunday because of a knee injury. Branch was listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week.
Parker playing: Wide receiver DeVante Parker also will be active after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday because of an ankle injury. Like Branch, Parker was listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week. Safety T.J. McDonald also will be active after being listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.
Tankersley out: Rookie cornerback Cordrea Tankersley will be inactive for a third consecutive game because of the ankle/shoulder injuries he sustained in the 35-9 victory against the Denver Broncos on Dec. 3. Tankersley was listed as questionable on the final injury report of the week. Third-year player Bobby McCain again will start at cornerback in place of Tankersley.
Veterans sidelined: Running back Damien Williams will miss his fourth consecutive game because of the shoulder injury he sustained in the game at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 26. Safety Michael Thomas will be inactive for a second game in a row because of a knee injury.
Lineup notes: Quarterback David Fales again will serve as the backup quarterbac, with Matt Moore sitting out a fourth consecutive game because of a foot injury. … Tight end Thomas Duarte and tackle Eric Smith, who were added to the 53-man roster this week, both will be inactive. … Rookie guard Isaac Asiata will be inactive for the 15th game this season.
Opponent info: The list of New Kansas City inactives consists of QB Tyler Bray, CB Phillip Gaines, LB Ramik Wilson, CB Keith Reaser, DT Justin Hamilton, OL Parker Ehinger and S Leon McQuay.
This and that: Safety Reshad Jones will serve as a game captain and long-snapper John Denney will replace Michael Thomas as the special teams captain against Kansas City. They will join season captains Mike Pouncey, Kenny Stills, Ndamukong Suh and Cameron Wake. … The Dolphins will be wearing aqua pants with white jerseys.
