Miami Dolphins defense regains unit’s playcaller
The Miami Dolphins’ struggling defense will be whole again on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns when Tyrel Dodson returns to the field.
Dodson, who has served as Miami’s starting inside linebacker for the first five games, suffered a concussion in Miami’s 27-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers, and was forced to sit out last Sunday’s 29-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers because he was in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Dodson returned to practice late last week, but hadn’t cleared the NFL’s concussion protocol until he participated in his second practice without suffering any of the lingering effects that come from a concussion.
K.J. Britt, a fifth-year veteran Miami added as a free agent this offseason, replaced Dodson as the inside linebacker paired with Jordyn Brooks against the Chargers and record a career-high 13 tackles. But Brooks was forced to handle the green-dot responsibilities for Miami’s defense, wearing the communication system in his headset that allows him to listen to play calls and instruction from defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
“K.J. Britt played his [butt] off last week,” defensive line coach Joe Barry said, explaining why Britt handled every rep as Dodson’s replacement, which coincidentally kept veteran linebacker Willie Gay Jr. off the field. “I’m a routine, rhythm, preparation guy. I’ve never been a big fan of [rotating] inside linebackers.”
Britt and Gay were supposedly competing to work as Dodson’s replacement last week, but Barry said the decision was to stick with Britt because he’s handled every single snap as Miami’s inside linebacker this offseason while Gay has backed up Brooks at weakside linebacker, working in coverage.
However, that’s a role Brooks would prefer not to play, which means the NFL’s leading tackler (66 stops) gladly welcomes Dodson back to the field.
Dodson, who has played in 81 career games with 32 starts, has tallied 46 tackles, two sacks, one pass deflection and forced one fumble in the five games he’s played for a Dolphins defense, which is 30th in the yards allowed and 28th in points allowed per game (20).
