MIAMI GARDENS — The Dolphins, coming off a game with major players on offense out, are now preparing for a playoff game against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs without a huge chunk of their defense.

The Dolphins will be without linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel, Jerome Baker and Cam Goode on Saturday night in Kansas City, with a strong likelihood the season is over for all three. In addition, the Dolphins are proceeding as if cornerback Xavien Howard, who missed Sunday’s loss to Buffalo, also won’t play against the Chiefs.

It’s also uncertain how effective safety Jevon Holland will be. Holland, coming off injuries to both knees, played only 27 snaps, 35 percent of the defensive plays, vs. Buffalo. Even defensive tackle Christian Wilkins, who had a strip/sack/fumble against Josh Allen, wore a wrap on his right wrist Monday but said it wasn’t anything serious.

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Van Ginkel injured his foot in the third quarter against the Bills and is out for the remainder of the postseason, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday.

Baker, who was just returning off injured reserve, finished the Buffalo game — and made a touchdown-saving hit — despite suffering a wrist injury that required surgery. It “appears” he’s done for the year, McDaniel said.

And Goode was carted off in the fourth quarter with a knee injury that turned out to be a torn patella, ending his season.

So many injuries, it's difficult to keep track of them

The injuries to key players were such that when McDaniel was asked the blanket question of if any other major injuries hadn’t been accounted for, he replied, “I don’t think so.”

Another sobering way to look at it: Of the 11 defensive starters against Buffalo, the only players who either weren’t on last week’s injury report (with an injury or illness) and aren’t expected to be on this week’s reports are end Emmanuel Ogbah, cornerback Kader Kohou and Eli Apple and safety DeShon Elliott.

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At least there was at least a positive development on the offensive side. Running back Raheem Mostert (knee, ankle) and receiver Jaylen Waddle (ankle), both held out vs. Buffalo, continue to be a source of optimism for McDaniel this weekend.

Van Ginkel’s injury ends a breakout year in which the team relied on him more as the season wore on, both because of his production and because of season-ending injuries to star edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. McDaniel labeled Van Ginkel’s season “very impressive and inspiring.”

He added, “This guy seized every opportunity and that's the hallmark of what players have to do in this league, is you eventually get an opportunity some way shape or form. What do you do with it? He found a way to be a versatile contributor before he was a starter. Then every time we called upon them to start he came through in a big-time way. So it's the beauty of professional sports.”

Because Van Ginkel has been operating on a one-year contract and will be a sought-after free agent after this season, it’s possible he has played his last game as a Dolphin, even though he said he’d like to return.

“I really, really believe in the individuals to be strong-minded enough to handle the hurt that's been delivered the last couple of weeks and press forward to try to do something special together,” McDaniel said.

Saturday's gameDolphins at ChiefsPeacock, 8 p.m.

Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at  hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins lose linebackers Van Ginkel, Baker, Goode