Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start at quarterback against the Dolphins as long as his calf is feeling well and it looks like he will be good to go on Sunday.
Thompson-Robinson said on Thursday, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com, that he was feeling “tightness” in the calf, but that he has received extra treatment over the last few days. He said he “feels great” now and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey also indicated earlier in the day that he’s on track to face Miami.
Thompson-Robinson made his first start of the season in last Sunday’s loss to the Bengals and went 20-of-34 for 157 yards and two interceptions. He also ran nine times for 49 yards and took five sacks.
Jameis Winston had been the Browns’ starter, but he was benched after Week 15 and he was inactive with a right shoulder injury last weekend. Bailey Zappe was the No. 2 quarterback against the Bengals.
Veteran edge rusher Shaq Barrett could return to the field before the 2024 season is over.
Barrett’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN that the Dolphins have agreed to waive Barrett. Barrett retired ahead of the season, but expressed interest in returning to action late last month. The Dolphins opted not to activate him or release him at that point, but have changed course now and Barrett will be eligible to play in Week 18 and the postseason if he clears waivers and signs with another team. If he’s claimed, he will not be able to play as he would remain on the reserve/retired list.
“We appreciate the Dolphins giving Shaq this opportunity to continue his career in the NFL,” Rosenhaus said. “Hopefully he will pass through waivers and become a free agent so he can play again this season. He is in great shape and would be ready to play immediately.”
Barrett had 4.5 sacks for the Buccaneers last season and has 59 sacks for his career, so he could provide a boost to the pass rush of a team headed for the playoffs. That might be enough of a reason for another contender without that need to claim him and keep him from returning to the field, so it will be interesting to see how things play out.
Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb will not play in the 2024 season.
Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters in his Tuesday press conference that Miami will not activate Chubb off of the reserve/physically unable to perform list.
Chubb suffered a torn ACL meniscus, and patellar tendon late last season.
“He just needs a little longer to build,” McDaniel said, via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. “It was the nature of the injury and how his body responded.”
McDaniel noted that Chubb did not have a set back, but just isn’t ready to play at his usual high level.
Chubb recorded 11.0 sacks with 11 tackles for loss, 22 QB hits, and a league-high six forced fumbles for the Dolphins in 16 games last year.
Miami also is unlikely to have cornerback Kendall Fuller for Sunday’s matchup against the Browns, with McDaniel noting he’s week-to-week.
The Dolphins called on kicker Jason Sanders often during last Sunday’s game against the 49ers and Sanders came through every time.
Sanders made all five field goals he tried and also nailed a pair of extra points to account for 17 points in Week 16. That matched the 49ers’ point total and helped the Dolphins to a 29-17 win that kept their playoff hopes alive.
The NFL announced on Tuesday that Sanders has been named the AFC special teams player of the week. It’s the sixth time that he has taken the prize.
Sanders is 33-of-37 on field goals and 22-of-24 on extra points this season.
Tyreek Hill caught a touchdown pass during Sunday’s 29-17 win over the 49ers, but the Dolphins wideout’s focus was on plays he didn’t make when he spoke to reporters after the game.
Hill dropped a third down pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa on the team’s opening drive and then failed to reel in a pass that was tipped by 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir in the end zone later in the first quarter. It would have been a difficult catch, but it was one Hill said he should have had and he pointed to a lack of practice time as the reason for the miscues.
A wrist injury has led Hill to get more rest during the practice week this season and said after the game that “you can’t just show up on Sunday” without putting in work during the week.
“I need those valuable reps with Tua,” Hill said, via a transcript from the team. “Those vet rest days are starting to show. I completely blame myself for not getting my head around and not seeing the ball because, if I see a ball, we’re talking cross-court, 70-yard touchdown. But those Wednesday reps are definitely showing. As a leader, I’ve just got to be able to bite the bullet sometime and practice and get those valuable reps with QB1 because, if we’re able to stay on the field on third down, who knows what could happen.”
When asked about Hill’s comments, head coach Mike McDaniel said that a move to adjust the practice schedule to get the duo more work is “an easy one” to make so Hill should be seeing more of the practice field for what’s left of the Dolphins season.
