Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses missing players and if he put in good word for Tagovailoa
The Dolphins remain without at least four starters, and one key backup, on defense.
Still sidelined on that side of the ball: edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb (who both remain on the physically unable to perform list), linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker (who have missed the past two practices) and safety Jordan Poyer (who has missed the past three practices).
All five except Walker are projected starters for the Dolphins. Backup edge rusher Cam Goode (knee) remains on the PUP list, along with Phillips, Chubb, receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and guard Isaiah Wynn.
NFL teams aren’t required to disclose injuries before Week 1 of the regular season. The Dolphins are not identifying the specifics of any injury or giving a timetable for any of their injured players.
Brooks and Walker are “dealing with something different,” coach Mike McDaniel said Monday morning. “They’re on their way back. They’ll be back sooner than later. When that is, I’m not going to hurt their timetable. It’s not something I’m worried about. That’s a very competitive group. There are some invaluable reps” at that position for others, including Channing Tindall, former Giants linebacker Cam Brown and Ezekiel Vandenburgh, as well as starter David Long Jr. and reliable backup Duke Riley.
Poyer, who is expected to start alongside Jevon Holland, is “dealing with something as well,” McDaniel said when asked why Poyer has been absent from practice. “He been very active. We will see him again.”
McDaniel addressed other issues:
▪ On cornerback Jalen Ramsey: “He’s on a heater. last five practices, he’s done something I haven’t seen a player at his position do.”
▪ McDaniel declined to say whether an extension for impending free agent Holland is in the works; he typically leaves those types of questions for general manager Chris Grier, who has said he wants Holland to remain with the Dolphins long-term.
“I love Jevon,” McDaniel said. “He’s been working on his game like he always does. He’s having a really good camp and taking to the scheme.”
▪ On the joint practices with Atlanta on Tuesday and Wednesday in Miami Gardens: “You will see a couple teams really excited to play against somebody else. It will be a breath of fresh air.”
He said Falcons coach Raheem Morris “is one of my favorite coaches I’ve ever worked with, an impactful one for me because of his defensive prowess. I was in Washington and Atlanta with him. We go way back.
“In joint practices, where you have extensive working history with the other head coach, it’s a little easier with the flow of practice. You will see two hungry teams try to establish who they are and practicing while trying to protect each other. It should be pretty intense and fun.”
▪ On what has changed for him in year three on the job: “You have more supreme humility in the job in my perspective. But you still have that ambition and naive enough to think you can do more on your own than you’re really capable of. How people bond, I have a firmer appreciation for. It’s humbling. At this point in my life, I almost can do nothing by myself. I can still work a microwave and fill my car tank with gas. Outside of that, I need a lot of help with everything I do.”
▪ McDaniel was asked about Tagovailoa’s comment that he heard that McDaniel went to management to say his contract extension must get done. He didn’t deny it, but suggested that was overstated.
“I’ve stated very clearly from the onset my belief in the player,” McDaniel said. “That belief was held supremely in the organization. It was probably glorified about me kicking a door down. Any time I was asked through the whole process -- beginning to middle to end -- everyone from Steve Ross to Chris Grier to Brandon Shore to Tom Garfinkel knew where I stand.”
So did McDaniel put in a good work for Tagovailoa before the deal got done?
“I’m an exuberant guy that stands behind his beliefs. I don’t think they need to hear me say the same thing over and over. But they probably heard me say the same thing over and over.”
This story was originally published August 5, 2024 at 10:28 AM.
