Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel eager to see long-term impacts Chubb and Wilson will make
Bradley Chubb’s first stat line as a member of the Miami Dolphins’ defense didn’t look like anything special — one assisted tackle.
But if you look beyond the boxscore, as Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel did reviewing the film on the way back from Chicago, you could already see glimpses of the impact the team is hoping the former Pro Bowl selection will have once he’s fully settled in.
“I was pumped at the stuff he was able to do,” McDaniel said Monday. “You put yourself in his situation, it’s Tuesday and you just get notified that you’re traded teams and taken your Wednesday when you’re preparing for first and second down, half of it is occupied by doing physicals and stuff and you’re trying to get used to a new defensive system that’s in a different language.”
Chubb, who was acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos last Tuesday for a 2023 first-round pick, a 2024 fourth-round pick, a 2025 fifth-round pick and running back Chase Edmonds, had an extensive role in his team debut in Miami’s 35-32 win over the Bears in Chicago.
Chubb played 54 of the 77 defensive snaps, and his snaps only trailed Jaelan Phillips’ 61 among outside linebackers.
“There were several occasions where he didn’t end up on the stat sheet, but he was able to affect the plays by getting to the quarterback quick enough that he had to get the ball out and that’s what you’re asking at that position,” McDaniel said. “I’m really happy with the player, the talent and the effort. I feel like he’s going to fit right in moving forward.”
The same can be said for running back Jeff Wilson Jr., whom the Dolphins acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers last week.
Wilson played 28 of the 57 offensive snaps, while Raheem Mostert played 27. Both Wilson and Mostert carried the ball nine times but Wilson recorded a team-high 51 rushing yards, including a 28-yard run in the third quarter, a season high for the Dolphins. Wilson also caught two passes for 21 yards and a touchdown.
McDaniel said both Mostert and Wilson are starter-caliber players and wants to make sure both have opportunities.
“If any two games were going to be able to do something like that, it would have to be two football-centric, committed individuals like those two,” McDaniel said. “On both sides of the ball, on defense our edge players got him into a rotation that made them all better but isn’t fine-tuned yet. It was a nice balance to get [Wilson] some productive touches and complement Raheem’s game.”
INJURY UPDATES
▪ McDaniel said wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who went into the medical tent during the team’s first possession of the second quarter, was “doing alright” and said the team came through Sunday’s about as clean injury-wise as they had been in some time.
▪ McDaniel said offensive tackle Austin Jackson would likely be on the practice field again this week, but it’s unclear if he would be able to return to action this week. Jackson has been out since Week 1 with an ankle injury.
McDaniel said he was encouraged by the work Jackson put in during that first practice last week.
“I saw the same player that didn’t have any setbacks,” McDaniel said. “He’s gotten a ton of mental reps in this period and has been locked in the whole time, so I was encouraged because he looked like the athlete that I know and it didn’t hurt him in the process.”
▪ McDaniel said there was no change in the status of cornerback Byron Jones, who remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
▪ McDaniel announced that reserve tight end Hunter Long was in concussion protocol.
MORE SNAP COUNTS
One week after being a healthy scratch against the Detroit Lions, Eric Rowe started at safety opposite Jevon Holland. Rowe played 57 snaps and recorded seven tackles.
Inside linebacker Elandon Roberts played a season-high 57 defensive snaps as defensive coordinator Josh Boyer’s likely prioritized his run defense against the Bears. Meanwhile, fellow inside linebacker Jerome Baker played a season-low 45 defensive snaps. Rookie Channing Tindall played a season-high five defensive snaps, primarily as a quarterback spy for Justin Fields, whose 178 rushing yards were a regular-season single-game record for a quarterback. Tindall didn’t play on defense in the second half.
