Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses Fuller, Brooks, Waddle injuries, Chubb status, Hill and more
Coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that he’s optimistic linebacker Jordyn Brooks will be able to play through quadriceps and knee injuries that forced him to leave Sunday’s win against the 49ers before returning very late in the game.
Brooks leads the Dolphins and is 12th in the league in tackles (128) and plays every snap when he’s healthy.
Meanwhile, McDaniel said he does not have full clarity on cornerback Kendall Fuller’s knee injury, also sustained in Sunday’s 29-17 win against the 49ers. Asked if a serious knee injury such as a torn ACL is feared, McDaniel said there are no such concerns.
Storm Duck played 13 snaps at cornerback after Fuller departed and allowed both passes to be caught against him for 24 yards. Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou, Siran Neal, Fuller, Duck and Ethan Bonner are the cornerbacks on the 53-man roster.
Fuller has been sidelined twice previously this season due to concussions.
At inside linebacker, Duke Riley played 17 snaps after Brooks departed and permitted both passes to be thrown against him to be caught for 22 yards and a touchdown. Riley has been backing up Brooks, and Tyrel Dodson has been backing up Anthony Walker Jr. at the other inside linebacker spot. The fact Brooks returned to the game late was encouraging.
Meanwhile, McDaniel was non-committal about whether receiver Jaylen Waddle will practice this week; he missed Sunday’s game with a knee injury.
“I’m expecting to get everything from Waddle that he can do,” McDaniel said. “I’ve [talked to] the trainer to make sure we protect him from himself. We will see how the week progresses. I don’t know exactly what it will look like.”
Meanwhile, McDaniel said the team hasn’t decided whether to activate outside linebacker Bradley Chubb by Wednesday’s Christmas deadline. He has participated in nine practices on a limited basis over the past three weeks as he works his way back from major knee injuries sustained last Dec. 31 against Baltimore.
“Those conversations will be had in the immediate future,” McDaniel said Monday afternoon of the looming decision about whether to remove Chubb from the physically unable to perform list. “We haven’t tied a bow on that. Bradley is working downstairs.”
McDaniel addressed other issues on Monday, as Miami turns its attention to Sunday’s game at Cleveland (4:05 p.m., CBS):
▪ In the wake of Tyreek Hill saying he needs to practice more, McDaniel said and he and the players “are working together to get the right formula.”
McDaniel said he understands Hill’s Sunday comments about being frustrated about what he’s going through this year, which includes a wrist injury. During his media session on Monday, McDaniel “he’s playing through a ton of discomfort. Guys recognize that.”
With regard to practice, “Guys know he doesn’t want to watch; he wants to play,” McDaniel said. Tyreek has super high expectations for himself because of the responsibility he feels as one of the best players in the league at any position. When you don’t get the results you work for, you get frustrated. The great thing about Tyreek is he’s a competitor and will not skirt around solutions.”
Hill, Calais Campbell, Terron Armstead, Jordan Poyer (and at times, Kendall Lamm) are the veterans who have often taken rest days on Wednesday practice days this season.
▪ McDaniel, on getting the game ball from owner Stephen Ross on Sunday: “It was nice. I feel so fortunate to have an owner like Mr. Ross, who’s so supportive. And at the same time, he has taken the time to consider your journey. Who doesn’t want to work for someone like that? It was a cool moment I wasn’t anticipating. I appreciate his thoughtfulness in that regard. We were working endlessly to have a three-phase game like that.”
▪ On Kader Kohou’s strong play this season, including a critical interception on the 49ers’ late possession: “I couldn’t be happier for him. You can feel the momentum of his game increasing. The interception.. he read the quarterback’s eyes and fed off the pass rush and played fundamentals and techniques the way we would clinic it.”
This story was originally published December 23, 2024 at 2:25 PM.
