Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
No action for Roberts on Sunday due to concussion
LB only in 2nd stage of league’s protocol
Miami Dolphins starting inside linebacker Elandon Roberts is in the second stage of the NFL’s three-stage concussion protocol, which allowed the team captain to return to practice Friday.
But Roberts, who suffered a concussion during last week’s 21-11 loss to the New England Patriots, has been ruled out for Sunday’s 1 p.m. game against the Buffalo Bills at Hard Rock Stadium.
“We’ll see about next week. Obviously it’s a short week also,” coach Brian Flores said, referring to the Dolphins’ Thursday night road game against Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 24.
“His health and the health of all our players is priority No. 1. We have to make sure he’s ready to go before we put him out there.”
It’s typical for a player to return to practice for a least one on-field session before being removed from concussion protocol, which was instituted to protect players from returning too soon from head injuries. However, it doesn’t guarantee they’ll be cleared for a game. The concussion symptoms must subside, and they must pass a neurological test to exit the concussion protocol.
With Roberts sidelined the Dolphins must find a replacement to pair with Jerome Baker, who had a career game last week, contributing 16 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.
Miami has a couple options, including moving Kyle Van Noy inside to play next to Baker. That would mean the Dolphins must find another edge player to fill his role.
Andrew Van Ginkel and Sam Eguavoen would be the front-runners to do so if the Dolphins don’t use a defensive end like rookie Jason Strowbridge.
The Dolphins also could keep Van Noy as the team’s outside linebacker in Flores’ hybrid 3-4 scheme and use Kamu GrugierHill, Calvin Munson or Eguavoen as the inside linebacker paired with Baker.
Eguavoen, a former CFL standout, started six games in Roberts’ role last season before his struggles led to a demotion.
Grugier-Hill, a fifth-year veteran the Dolphins added as a free agent this offseason, has 16 games of starting experience.
Munson, a second-year player the Dolphins poached off New England’s practice squad late last season, has started seven of the 17 games he’s played since 2017.
Because Miami’s defense is packagebased it is possible to see multiple linebacker combinations used in various groupings.
Parker’s playing status “game-time decision”
DeVante Parker, the team’s leading receiver in Week 1, practiced all week on a limited basis because of the left hamstring strain he’s been nursing for three weeks, but Flores said he’ll be a game-time decision.
“He’s practiced all week, but we’ll see on Sunday morning,” Flores said about Parker, who caught four passes for 49 yards in the half he played of Sunday’s season opener.
“Devante is competitive, so he wants to be out there.”
Jakeem Grant, who was nursing a calf injury earlier this week, is also expected to play. Grant has practiced all week without limitations, and could be a significant contributor if Parker is limited for the second straight week because of his injury. …
Safety Clayton Fejedelem, who suffered a pectoral injury last Thursday and missed the season opener, practiced all week in a non-contact jersey usually designated for quarterbacks. …
Cornerbacks Xavien Howard (knee) and Byron Jones (Achilles) also practiced all week on a limited basis, and both of the starters on the boundary are expected to play against Buffalo, which has one of the NFL’s best trio of receivers in Stefon Diggs, John Brown and Cole Beasley . ...
The NFL announced that practice squad receiver Antonio Callaway, who was previously suspended for 10 games back in November 2019 for violating the NFL’s policy on substance of abuse, will now be eligible to play once his team plays seven games in 2020. So if Callaway is still on the Dolphins practice squad later this season he’ll be eligible to play Nov. 1 against the Los Angeles Rams.