The Miami Dolphins will head into their Week 2 trip to San Francisco without Chop Robinson, after the team ruled out the edge rusher because of a concussion.
Coach Jeff Hafley said Friday at the Dolphins’ training site in Napa, California, that Robinson picked up the concussion during practice this week. He did not take part in Thursday’s session.
That’s a tough blow for a Miami defense that already had a rough opening week. In the loss to the Raiders, the Dolphins had trouble slowing the run and never found consistent pressure on quarterback Kirk Cousins. Cousins finished 21 of 30 for 160 yards and three touchdowns, while Ashton Jeanty handled 23 carries for 102 yards.
Robinson’s health has been a storyline before. He dealt with two concussions last season, and Miami is still waiting for the third-year linebacker to take the kind of step the team has been hoping for.
He had a strong preseason, but in the opener he managed only one tackle and had issues against the run. At season’s end, the Dolphins will decide whether to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie contract.
If Robinson can’t go Sunday, Miami will likely lean on veteran Josh Uche and second-year defensive tackle Zeek Biggers. Malik Herring, who joined the team a couple of weeks ago, is also in the mix, along with Clelin Ferrell, who is on the practice squad but was elevated to the active roster for Week 1.
“We might do some other things to help out, but those guys I have confidence in," Hafley said. "They've been getting better. They all haven't been here for the entire time, but they've done a nice job in practice this week and it'll be the next man up.”
In Other News...
Dolphins Suddenly Face A Bigger QB Question Than Malik Willis
Malik Willis latest outing did little to settle the Dolphins long-term quarterback debate, and that leaves Miami staring at a familiar kind of uncertainty this early in the season. An average performance can keep a team afloat for a week, but it can also sharpen the conversation around whether the current starter is the answer or simply the placeholder while the front office keeps scanning the horizon.
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How Much Of Florida Gets The Dolphins Game This Week
The Dolphins trip to face the 49ers on Sunday will be one of those regional FOX broadcasts that leaves plenty of fans checking their local listings before kickoff. In Florida, the game is set to be carried mainly in the southern part of the state, while other pockets of the western United States will also get the matchup as part of FOXs Sunday slate.
For Miami fans elsewhere in the state, that means the afternoon may come down to where you are watching from as much as who you are rooting for. The broadcast map is also shaped by the networks other games in the same time slot, so the full rollout will depend on which NFL matchup FOX decides to prioritize in each market. [Read more 🡒]
