Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said the decision to bring in edge rusher Matthew Judon on a free-agent visit on Monday and Tuesday has nothing to do with an injury at outside linebacker.
Asked if any outside linebacker on the team will miss multiple weeks with an injury, McDaniel said no.
That would suggest that Miami expects Jaelan Phillips will be back soon; he hasn’t practiced in a week, but McDaniel has suggested the injury isn’t serious.
As for Judon, who has 72 career sacks, McDaniel said: “We are visiting for the sake of seeing if there is a situation that both parties would be able to come into an agreement of, ‘hey, this is a situation that fits.’ Visiting for visiting purposes. We will see what it leads to.”
The Dolphins and Judon have mutual interest but there had not been any contract talks as of midday Monday. He had 5.5 sacks in 17 games and 15 starts for the Falcons last season.
McDaniel, whose team did not practice on Monday, addressed other issues during a Monday afternoon Zoom session with reporters:
▪ Cornerback Ethan Bonner will be out weeks with a hamstring injury but “nothing beyond that,” McDaniel said.
Bonner started Saturday’s preseason game at Detroit but was injured during the first half.
▪ McDaniel indicated that rookie safety Dante Trader Jr., who departed Saturday’s game after playing just five defensive snaps, did not re-aggravate an injury that sidelined him recently.
“That was pre-planned,” McDaniel said of the limited snap conut. “Wanted to him to get a series in but not overcook [it]. We will see how that plays out.”
▪ McDaniel said he’s confident right tackle Austin Jackson will be ready to play in the Sept. 7 opener at the Colts. Jackson has been sidelined the past two weeks after being stepped on in practice.
▪ He said tight end Darren Waller will return from the physically unable to perform list and begin practicing “very soon,” potentially this week. Waller hasn’t practiced yet while working off the rust after a year in retirement.
His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said on his weekly Sunday night WSVN-Fox segment that Waller will be able to contribute in the regular-season opener.
“I’m expecting to see him sooner than later,” McDaniel said. “I had in the back of my mind this week, but I’m not going to just put him out there this week because I said it before.”
▪ McDaniel said defensive lineman Zach Sieler, who has been dealing with a minor undisclosed injury, will return to practice this week but said running back De’Von Achane (calf injury) likely won’t practice this week in order to be cautious.
▪ Asked if the Dolphins may add a veteran cornerback, McDaniel was non-committal: “Inherent in our job responsibilities is that we consider everything... There’s a possibility we could add somebody. There’s a possibility... better players could already be on our roster.”
Pressed about what the Dolphins see in their cornerbacks that others might not see, McDaniel spoke of their “detailed commitment to technique and fundamentals” and spoke for several minutes.
“I’m seeing guys play very consistent bump coverage relative to the rest of the league. I’m seeing guys making plays in the pass game and run game. I’m seeing guys play off coverage, reading through quarterback quick game footwork.. and staying square with wide departure routes. ..
“The challenge is not to find the names that make us feel most comfortable on the front end. It’s trying to be real and find the best players.”
McDaniel then made this interesting comment: “When you don’t have a long resume of NFL production, you assume that’s because they’re not good. That’s probably why there’s a disconnect. We are evaluating people off of days, weeks, off focused, intentional instruction.”
▪ McDaniel said he was “happy for” former Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, who signed with the Colts after not playing last season, but did not answer directly when asked if the Dolphins considered signing Howard.