MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead’s injured knee requires rest rather than surgery, coach Mike McDaniel said Monday.
Concerns were raised when Armstead pulled himself from Sunday’s overtime victory over the New York Jets after a total of only five plays. Armstead started and tried to go for a few plays, came out, returned, then left for good.
At that point, he appeared distraught, raising concerns that the knee that has troubled him much of the season might have serious issues.
“It’s a rest thing,” McDaniel said. “I think you might have seen his frustration level to try to contribute in this particular game and it’s something he can’t control. I’ve been very proud of how he’s handled all of it because he’s probably at a new level of maturity to handle these type of things based upon his necessity.
“I think we’ll let it cool down a little bit and what it means for the time moving forward, I’m going to make sure that my communication is steadfast with him.”
Miami Dolphins Overreaction Monday: Tua a Top 5 QB? Playoff-bound! Awful rushing attack.
Rookie Patrick Paul replaced Armstead and played 67 snaps.
Armstead was limited in a practice before the Green Bay game on Thanksgiving and otherwise has not practiced since despite continuing to play. He and McDaniel knew going into the Jets game that Paul might be needed.
“Just knowing what was ahead of him in terms of he was trying to will himself, I just made it very clear, that don’t waste your time trying to be a superhero,” McDaniel said.
Aaron Rodgers compliments Chop Robinson
Rookie linebacker Chop Robinson believes he should share a sack with Zach Sieler from the Jets game. Officially for now, it’s only Sieler’s sack, but that doesn’t mean Robinson didn’t come away from the game with a couple of memories of facing Aaron Rodgers.
Robinson was shaken up in the second quarter but quickly returned. When he did, Rodgers went over and made sure Robinson was OK.
Later, Rodgers complimented Robinson.
“We were talking between the plays and he was telling me that I’m going to be a special player and everything,” Robinson said. “We’ve got the same agent, so he was talking to my agent after the game about me and everything. So it just felt good, coming from a guy that I’ve been watching since I was basically born, honestly.”
Robinson is 21. Rodgers is 41. No word on whether Rodgers felt old hearing that crack about “since I was basically born.”
Dee Eskridge’s knee injury may not be serious
Receiver Dee Eskridge left the game after injuring a knee in the third quarter. McDaniel said the team is still getting information on the severity.
McDaniel said it’s “not anything close to IR related” but Eskridge is unlikely to play in Houston on Sunday.
CB Kendall Fuller changes helmets
Cornerback Kendall Fuller returned to the secondary in a big way Sunday, playing all but one of the 68 defensive snaps, after missing three games with a concussion.
Fuller finished with eight tackles and a pass defensed in what likely was the best performance of any Dolphins defensive back. He also made a key play at the end of regulation by forcing Devante Adams out of bounds after a reception with 56 seconds left, preserving time for the Dolphins to kick a tying field goal and win in overtime.
Fuller said he used the time away to learn more about concussions, make sure he was making the right decision by continuing to play, and changing to a safer helmet.
“Pretty much I got the top-rated helmet that you can wear,” he said.
Despite Fuller’s presence, the Jets finished with 26 points, their second-highest output of the season, as Rodgers passed for 339 yards, ending a 35-game streak without a 300-yard performance.
