McDonald expected to have major impact
Suspension served, safety likely to debut against Carolina.
DAVIE — The Dolphins have yet to unleash powerful safety T.J. McDonald on the world, but his teammates know exactly the kind of weapon that will finally be in play.
McDonald has served his eight-game suspension and will return Monday at Carolina, almost certainly as a starter, and he gives Miami a menacing presence in the secondary.
“From what I’ve seen, he’s a very smart, fierce, (expletive) hard-hitting person that you would want on your side of the ball,” linebacker Rey Maualuga said. “I’m just excited to have him back. He’ll intensify the defense that much more with his presence in the lineup.”
McDonald’s intensity is evident when he talks about a showdown he had with the New York Giants’ Odell Beckham while McDonald was with the Los Angeles Rams.
McDonald gave Beckham a hard shove off the field after a catch and then followed him for 10 yards, jawing at the star receiver all the way as they went face mask to face mask, McDonald never backing down.
“Our whole team was going at it,” McDonald said of the play. “I’m not afraid to let them know, ‘Look, I’m here.’ I don’t care who it is. I’m here. And I’m going to be here. I’m not slowing down. Odell is a great player. He was young at the time. He was a rookie. We were all riled up. We were talking. He was doing all the dances and everything. He’s definitely proving his worth now. But at the time, that’s just how I am. I am fiery. I get fired up.”
McDonald said he gets so “locked in” during games that he has no fear.
“I talk about it, but it’s hard to explain. I lock in on the target,” McDonald said. When I get on course, I’m not slowing down. Once I get on course, I’m not slowing down. There is no fear. I don’t want to put it that I don’t have regard for my body, because I do, but at that moment, I really don’t.”
While they waited for him, the Dolphins played Nate Allen. That ended when Allen suffered a season-ending injury, leaving Michael Thomas and undrafted rookie Maurice Smith to fill the safety spot next to Reshad Jones.
McDonald, who played his first four seasons with the Rams, signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in the offseason and turned that into a four-year extension by impressing them on the practice field. Including this season, he’s under contract for $25.4 million through 2021.
Miami loved what it saw from him in the offseason program and preseason, which was the last time he was allowed to practice or play. During his suspension, McDonald trained, went to meetings and studied film to stay up to date. He was not permitted to practice with the team until now.
Still, his teammates have seen enough to know he’s a