MIAMI GARDENS — What was thought could be a fire sale for the Miami Dolphins at the NFL’s trade deadline never quite developed.
The Dolphins sent outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday, but followed that up with a quiet Tuesday, despite maybe some close calls with teams calling about wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, edge defender Bradley Chubb and others.
In the end, with former general manager Chris Grier gone as of Friday, no deal offered quite convinced interim GM Champ Kelly, coach Mike McDaniel and senior vice president of football and business administration Brandon Shore to strike.
“As a deal gets done or doesn’t, you’re either far off or real close, but somebody has to let down their guard or their positioning,” McDaniel said Wednesday, as he shifts focus back to the Dolphins’ Sunday 1 p.m. home kickoff against the Buffalo Bills.
“All deals are not close to me until they’re done, so I have a weird way of looking at it, but there wasn’t anything that moved the needle to change our roster beyond what we’ve done.”
McDaniel detailed the inner workings of Tuesday, as Miami, after the Phillips trade, stayed put.
“It was a collaboration of myself, Champ and Brandon Shore, utilizing all of the minds that we have within the organization,” said McDaniel, adding there was direct communication with owner Steve Ross, as well. “We had very healthy conversations, and we were all in agreement for the moves and/or moves we didn’t make. It was a normal trade deadline process.”
With ample doubt in Dolphins players’ minds over whether they would be on the move Tuesday, McDaniel seemed relieved to keep most of his roster intact as he can keep most of the same group together to focus on the Bills, who have won five straight AFC East crowns and have beaten the Dolphins 14 of the last 15 times they’ve squared off.
“The unknown is the greatest source of stress and anxiety for human beings,” McDaniel said. “I think it was a breath of fresh air to have all unilateral focus on an opponent and what we have to do, what are the keys in all three phases to win the game.”
Chop in protocol
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With outside linebacker Chop Robinson in concussion protocol, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he does not anticipate he will practice Wednesday.
“What does that mean for timelines? Your guess is as good as mine,” McDaniel said.
“He’s doing his best, and I’m happy with where he’s progressing. How fast that will be for this game, we’ll see.”
With Robinson’s status in doubt for Sunday and Phillips traded Monday, it could mean Matthew Judon starts opposite Bradley Chubb on the respective edges.
“He’s ready to fill in some of the gaps; so are some other guys,” McDaniel said.
Cameron Goode, primarily a special teamer, is another option at the position. Inside linebacker Willie Gay Jr. is versatile and can also play the edge.
The Dolphins signed outside linebacker Andre Carter II off the Detroit Lions’ practice squad on Wednesday to provide another option. The team also has Quinton Bell and Derrick McLendon as outside linebackers on the practice squad.
McDaniel said none of the players on injured reserve or the physically-unable-to-perform list will return to practice this week.
This story will be updated.
