Miami Dolphins linebacker Tyrel Dodson is in concussion protocol after exiting Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers early with a head injury,” coach Mike McDaniel said Monday.
Dodson quietly was removed from the lineup in the second half at Bank of America Stadium. During the fourth quarter, he was announced by the team as being ruled out with the head injury.
After the game, McDaniel said he wasn’t sure when Dodson took the hit to the head.
The starter of the first five games next to fellow inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks was replaced by linebacker K.J. Britt upon his departure.
Dodson’s status will be in question for this coming Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, as he now must make it through the NFL’s five-step protocol to return to play.
Dodson played 45 defensive snaps against the Panthers, and Britt played 22. Dodson is the green-dot player on Miami’s defense, who receives radio communication from coaches in his helmet to disseminate calls to the rest of the defense. Britt does this, as well, as his backup.
If Dodson is unable to play against the Chargers, the Dolphins must decide whether to simply plug Britt in to handle the responsibilities or utilize versatile reserve linebacker Willie Gay Jr., while possibly allowing Brooks to handle the defensive communication.
Gay has been lauded for his impact in few opportunities on the field. Although he started Sunday in a five-linebacker set, Gay only received three defensive snaps.
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Armstrong hurt
The Dolphins secondary suffered another injury blow with nickel cornerback Cornell Armstrong’s early exit due to a hamstring injury.
McDaniel said Armstrong will miss time as a residual of that soft-tissue ailment.
Armstrong was initially deemed questionable to return Sunday when he hurt the hamstring but never returned.
Armstrong was elevated to nickel cornerback duties with the Sept. 18 hamstring injury of rookie Jason Marshall Jr., which has him on injured reserve.
Miami still has Ethan Bonner and JuJu Brents as cornerbacks behind starters Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas, but they’re more so considered boundary corners.
The Dolphins also have an array of safeties who can creep up into the box and play the nickel, namely Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ifeatu Melifonwu, rookie Dante Trader and veteran special teamer Elijah Campbell.
— Four Dolphins offensive linemen eligible to return off a reserve list once physically ready — Austin Jackson, James Daniels, Liam Eichenberg and Andrew Meyer — are still multiple weeks away from a return, according to McDaniel. Jackson, Daniels and Meyer are on IR, and Eichenberg is on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
