Gase tight-lipped on LB Timmons’ status

CARSON, Calif. — Miami Dolphins linebacker Lawrence Timmons, who had an unexcused and unexpected absence Saturday, seems to be in a gray area regarding his future with the team. Coach Adam Gase declined to comment specifically on the 11-year veteran after Sunday’s 19-17 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Timmons, who went missing from the team Saturday, was inactive for the game.

“That was a coach’s decision,” Gase said of Timmons not playing. “I’ll be ready to talk about that probably tomorrow.”

A league source said the Dolphins found him, and are trying to gather more information about his disappearance.

Without Timmons, the Dolphins started undrafted rookie Chase Allen on the strongside (he ended with three tackles), Mike Hull (game-high 10 tackles) in the middle, and veteran Kiko Alonso (seven tackles) on the outside.

Teammates were tight-lipped on Timmons’ situation after the game.

“He left it out there all week in practice,” guard Jermon Bushrod said. “I just hope that he’s okay.”

Gase, asked whether Timmons returned at some point after being missing, didn’t address the question directly.

“I’m not saying anything right now,” he said. “I need to kind of figure some things out first before I talk about this.”

Special helmet sticker

The Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars all wore an orange decal on their helmet Sunday that said “One Florida” and has the image of the state.

The decal signifies the state’s resiliency following Hurricane Irma. Each team’s owner made a $1 million donation to Hurricane Irma relief efforts.

No silent count

The announced crowd at the StubHub Center was 25,381 (capacity is 27,000). The Dolphins, who might have had between 35 and 40 percent of the fans in the stadium, never had to use a silent snap count, which is usually done on the road as a solution to crowd noise.

Davis, Steen split time at LG

Anthony Steen and Jesse Davis split time at left guard with Steen starting and Davis getting work in the second quarter and playing the rest of the first half.

Steen was somewhat of a surprise as the starter, taking the job previously held by

Ted Larsen (biceps injury). Steen returned as the starter in the third quarter with Davis also getting work.

Gase: I was ‘off ’ calling plays

Gase liked what he saw from quarterback

Jay Cutler (24 of 33, 230 yards, one touchdown) but didn’t give himself high marks for his offensive play-calling.

“He was really good with the ball today,” Gase said of Cutler. “I thought he made good decisions. I was off calling play. It wasn’t as clean for me as I thought it would be. I think I slowed him up a little bit.”

Rookies debut

Rookie defensive end Charles Harris, Allen, defensive tackles Davon Godchaux and Vincent Taylor and punter Matt

Haack made their NFL debuts Sunday. Harris, the first-round pick from Missouri, played a few first-down snaps, which is a mild surprise considering he’s not adept at run defense. Harris ended with one tackle.

Inactives

Timmons was joined by fellow linebacker Rey Maualuga, offensive tackles Sam Young and Eric Smith, rookie cornerback Cordrea Tankersley, the third-round pick from Clemson, rookie guard Isaac Asiata, the fifth-round pick from Utah, and cornerback Torry McTyer .… Wide receiver Kenny Stills and safety Michael Thomas, who kneeled on one knee last season during the national anthem, stood during Sunday’s anthem. … Left tackle Laremy Tunsil had the first penalty, a false start, on the team’s first possession.

JIM RASSOL/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Head coach Adam Gase was pleased with quarterback Jay Cutler’s work Sunday, but didn’t like the job he did himself with the play-calling.