Assistant coaches live life on the injury report.

Outside of the “out” section — where Dolphins running back Reggie Bush sits for Sunday’s game with the Jets — the injury report lists uncertainties: questionable, probable, doubtful. That’s the lot of NFL assistant coaches even more so than head coaches, especially assistant coaches on staffs such as the Dolphins, where everybody knows change is coming.

Their approach to living with job insecurity could be summed up in the words of that fictional Miami Beach resident Hyman Roth: This is the business we’ve chosen. Or, for those whose taste run less Godfather and more Super Chicken: You knew the job was dangerous when you took it.

“If you don’t know what you’re getting into to begin with, then don’t be a coach,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Mike Nolan said.

Dolphins interim coach Todd Bowles, an NFL player for eight seasons and NFL coach for 12, said, “You kind of know what you’re signed up for when you come into this business. As a former player and coach for 10-plus years, all you can control is coaching your guys and make sure they’re ready to play. The decisions that you don’t make can’t affect you, so you just go ahead and coach. You’re true to yourself and you’re true to your coaching; you understand that you’ll be around somewhere.”

While Nolan said he found the changes sometimes “exciting,” he admitted, “I think it bothers you when you have children, from a family standpoint. Because that’s really who’s affected the most. But outside of that, my kids are out of the house now.

“If you’re a homebody, or if you want to be in one place all the time, get a high school job, get something that’s close to home,” he continued. “The NFL’s not for you. You’re going to move. Take the good with the bad.”

Nobody knows better than Nolan. Before being an NFL assistant and head coach the past 25 seasons, he was raised in the home of Dick Nolan, an assistant in Dallas under Tom Landry before being a head coach in San Francisco (1968-75) and New Orleans (1978-80).

“Without question, it helped a lot,” Nolan said. “It helped my wife, it helped my family because she knew what she was getting into at the time.”

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll’s family, wife and four children, is younger than Nolan’s and Daboll’s on his third team in four seasons. But the prospect of another move doesn’t cause him angst.

“You don’t focus on that,” Daboll said. “You’ve really got to focus what you can control, which is trying to get prepared for the New York Jets and doing the same meetings you have and studying as much film as you have.’’

None of the three wished they had chosen a more stable profession that wouldn’t include so much upheaval, the vast majority of which gets handled by their spouses.

“I wish I hit the Powerball,” Bowles laughed. “Other than that, no, I love the game.

“If I hit the Powerball in lotto, I would be like the guy on [ The] Shawshank [ Redemption]. I’ll have a boat down there on the island somewhere. I’ll be good to go. You’ll never hear from me again.”

Bush to miss finale

Bush showed he can be an every-down back this season with the Dolphins with 1,086 rushing yards and averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

But he’ll fall short of being an every-game back as he’ll miss Sunday’s season finale against the Jets with a knee injury. The Dolphins held Bush out of practice all week.

“He hasn’t been responding, so we’re going to sit him down,” said Bowles, who also said the same move would have been made had this been another point in the season instead of the finale.

Bush played all 16 games only in his rookie season, 2006, with New Orleans. This season’s 216 carries in 15 games exceed by four his past three seasons — but only 32 games — combined. His combined 259 carries and catches raised his career high from the 243 of his rookie season.

Cornerback Jimmy Wilson (hamstring) is doubtful for Sunday. Linebacker Karlos Dansby returned to practice Friday after dealing with a family emergency.

Arrive early

• The Dolphins ask that fans be in their seats by 12:45 for a pregame ceremony honoring outside linebacker Jason Taylor, who is retiring after 15 NFL seasons, 13 of which were with the Dolphins.

• Safety Yeremiah Bell was voted the 2011 Good Guy Award by the South Florida media who covers the Dolphins daily. The award honors a player for exemplary cooperation with the media over the course of a season and is given by each local Pro Football Writers Association chapter.

The Miami Dolphins appear to be limping into the season finale against the New York Jets.

Anthony Fasano returns to practice, and the Dolphins will need him against the Jets.

Not only is Todd Bowles’ team going to be playing without Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long on Sunday – which makes John Jerry the man responsible for stopping Calvin Pace – but the Dolphins have a number of starters nursing significant injuries.

Starting tailback Reggie Bush was held out of Wednesday’s practice because of a right knee injury he suffered late last week’s loss to the Patriots. Bush is walking fine, and says he’s fine.

So the hope is that the team’s featured tailback, who has rushed for 1,086 this season, will practice later this week and be cleared to play.

Starting right tackle Marc Colombo missed Wednesday’s practice because of an ankle injury, but this 10-year veteran has sat out a number of Wednesday practices this season, and played on Sunday.

Inside linebacker Karlos Dansby missed Wednesday’s practice, but his absence wasn’t injury related.

Receivers Brandon Marshall (left knee) and Clyde Gates (groin) were limited. Marshall has been battling knee soreness for a couple of weeks but played through the pain.

Gates apparently re-aggravated a groin strain that sidelined him a few weeks in November. His status will be monitored.

Tailback Daniel Thomas, who suffered a knee injury against the patriots, wasn’t even on the injury report.

Starting cornerback Vontae Davis participated fully despite the elbow injury he suffered in last Saturday’s game.

Davis’ status will be critical considering he’ll probably be responsible for covering Jets receiver Santonio Holmes. The Dolphins also don’t have much depth at cornerback these days, especially since rookie Jimmy Wilson missed practice with a hamstring injury.

On the positive side…. tight end Anthony Fasano passed his NFL mandatory baseline concussion test and has been cleared to return to practice. He’ll likely play on Sunday unless he suffers a setback.

Fasano, a four-year starter, sat out last weekend’s 27-24 loss to the New England Patriots because of the concussion he suffered the previous week.

Fasano’s presence is critical against the Jets because New York’s aggressive 3-4 scheme struggles defending tight ends, especially in the red zone.

Fasano has contributed 22 catches for 237 yards, scoring four touchdowns in the eight games he’s played against the Jets.

Fasano needs 89 receiving yards to establish a career high. He has 440 receiving yards. Last year, he logged 528.

G.G.A.T.G.

Linebacker Jason Taylor walked across the locker room brushing his teeth, then ducked into the equipment room to rinse and spit. Minutes later he tried to muster a smile for a cluster of TV cameras.

It was time to call it quits.

The NFL’s active sacks leader said he’ll retire after this season, his 15th in the NFL and his 13th with the Miami Dolphins. Taylor has contemplated retirement in years past only to be lured back, but now he insists his mind’s made up.

“Sunday’s my last game,” he said. “I might even change my cell phone number so they can’t reach me.”

The 37-year-old Taylor, who made the announcement following practice Wednesday, ranks sixth all-time with 139½ sacks. He has six fumble returns for touchdowns, an NFL record.

He’ll conclude his career Sunday against the New York Jets. It’ll be his 204th game with the Dolphins, which ranks second to Dan Marino’s 242.

“His contributions on the field as one of the greatest players in team history will be remembered by Dolphins fans for years to come,” owner Stephen Ross said in a statement. “He will always remain an integral part of the Dolphin family.”

Taylor has had three stints with the Dolphins, who drafted him in the third round in 1997. He also played for the Redskins in 2008 and the Jets in 2010.

“In my opinion, that’s a no-brainer Hall of Fame player,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “He was a phenomenal teammate here. We only had him the one year, yet he affected the team so positively. I’m proud that I had a chance to coach him.”

Taylor helped the Jets reached the AFC championship game. He never made it to the Super Bowl, and his final playoff game with the Dolphins was way back in 2001.

“If there was one regret I have as an athlete, it’s that I didn’t get a chance to bring a championship to Miami,” he said.

Taylor said his wife was surprised he’s hanging it up. But the Dolphins (5-10) are nearing the end of another disappointing season and about to embark on a coaching search, which influenced his decision.

“The last few weeks I thought about it more,” he said. “It has been a tough year. This organization is going to make some changes. This is the right time for me to go and allow this organization to grow and improve.”

Taylor made the Pro Bowl six times, spending much of his career at end before switching to linebacker. He has been used mostly in passing situations this season and has seven sacks this season, which ranks second on the team.

“He’s a great leader, a great ambassador for the city of Miami, and a great player in this league,” teammate Jake Long said. “He’ll definitely be missed.”

His best season was in 2006, when he was chosen NFL Defensive Player of the Year. That season he had 13½ sacks, forced 10 fumbles and returned two interceptions for scores.

Taylor has scored nine touchdowns, the most by any player whose primary position was the defensive line and who entered the league after 1970. He has four safeties, which ties him for fourth in NFL history. Taylor holds a Dolphins record with 27 fumble recoveries.

He has been honored many times for his work in the community, and his South Florida foundation has contributed more than $2 million in grants and services to help children.

“He’s a tremendous role model,” teammate Kendall Langford said. “He is always giving, giving, giving.”

The foundation will help keep Taylor busy in retirement. He has also dabbled in acting, and earned runner-up honors on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” in 2008.

“I look forward to the future. There are a few irons in the fire,” Taylor said. “Nothing is going to replace professional football. You can’t find it on the golf course or anywhere. There’s no place like an NFL locker room. Those guys become your family for seven months of the year. You won’t replace that. But I’ll find something else.”

Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long and wide receiver Brandon Marshall have been selected to the 2012 AFC Pro Bowl team, with Long earning a starter’s nod and Marshall chosen as a reserve.

It’s unlikely Long, who has struggled with various injuries this season, will play in the game. Marshall, who has played in the Pro Bowl two previous times while with the Denver Broncos, will be in the game for the first time representing Miami.

“This selection is special, considering the struggles we had this season,” Marshall said in a statement released by the team. “I appreciate the fans who voted for me, and it means a great deal that I also was voted to the Pro Bowl by the people who know the most about the game — the players and the coaches.

“I also want to thank my teammates, because football is the ultimate team game and I couldn’t have performed at the level I did without their help.”

Marshall leads the Dolphins with 77 receptions, 1,177 receiving yards and six touchdown catches. The annual contest matching the AFC and NFC will be played Jan. 29 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.