Rookie middle linebacker McMillan injures knee
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Raekwon McMillan suffered a right knee injury on his first snap of his first NFL game Thursday.
McMillan, a former Ohio State standout the Dolphins selected in the secondround of this year’s NFL draft, injured himself covering a punt on special teams against the Atlanta Falcons. He walked off the field on his own, but didn’t return to the game.
McMillan, who was been penciled in as Miami’s starting inside linebacker, was replaced by Mike Hull, who worked inside alongside Kiko Alonso and Lawrence Timmons during the first quarter.
If McMillan’s injury is serious, his absence would significantly deplete one of the team’s thinnest positions from a depth standpoint, and the Dolphins might be forced to add veteran linebackers via free agency or wait until teams start making cuts.
Losing McMillan might force Alonso or Timmons to move inside. Hull and Neville Hewitt are the only other players the Dolphins have with starting experience in NFL regular-season games.
Also injured during the first quarter of the game was cornerback Walt Aikens, one of the Dolphins’ top special teams players. Aikens suffered a back injury on a special teams play.
Cutler, most of starting OL out
New Dolphins quarterback Jay Cutler didn’t play against the Falcons, as expected, and neither did most of the projected starting offensive line including center Mike Pouncey (hip), left guard Ted Larsen (biceps), left tackle Laremy Tunsil (personal reasons) and right tackle Ja’Wuan James (unknown). In addition, starting running back Jay Ajayi (concussion) and safety Nate Allen, a projected starter, didn’t play.
Others who didn’t play for the Dolphins were Hewitt (unknown), wide receivers Malcolm Lewis (unknown) and Isaiah Ford (knee), who had surgery recently and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks.
Cornerback Tony Lippett, who started 13 games last year but has been a reserve in training camp, was also among those not in uniform.
Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones (foot) didn’t play as he’s still recovering from offseason surgery.
Stills, Thomas stand for anthem
Wide receiver Kenny Stills and safety Michael Thomas both stood during the national anthem, a departure from their anthem protest of a year ago when each would kneel on one knee with their right hand on their heart.
Neither was certain what they would do when quizzed on the topic during the offseason. Stills and Thomas were among four Dolphins who kneeled on one knee last season to protest social injustice.
Linebacker Jelani Jenkins, now with Oakland, kneeled for one game and running back Arian Foster, who started the movement among the Dolphins, retired midseason.
Owner Steve Ross publicly supported his players’ anthem protests last season.
OL gives new looks
The starting offensive line of center Jake Brendel, left guard Anthony Steen, right guard Jermon Bushrod, left tackle Jesse Davis and right tackle Sam Young didn’t play together much during training camp.
The second-team offensive line was Brendel at center, Davis at left guard, Steen at right guard, Young at left tackle and Eric Smith at right tackle, another lineup not see often in training camp.
Grant starts well
Wide receiver/returnman Jakeem Grant, who had ball-handling issues last season, handled the ball cleanly four times in the first half — three punt returns and two receptions. Grant, who played exclusively at slot receiver last season as a rookie, has moved to the outside this year. He was called for pass interference in the second quarter. … Rookie defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, the fifth-round pick from LSU, started ahead of Jordan Phillips and was active in the first half, recording two tackles while handling frequent double teams. … Seldom-used running back Storm Johnson had an impressive 44-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.