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Dolphins open Armstead’s practice window; Holland clears concussion protocol, but Jones doesn’t travel to Germany

david furones, south florida sun-sentinel
·5 min read

FRANKFURT, Germany — The Miami Dolphins designated Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead to return while practicing at Frankfurt’s PSD Bank Arena, coach Mike McDaniel said ahead of the team’s Wednesday drills.

“You feel the breeze?” McDaniel quipped, in a pun about opening the 21-day practice window.

Armstead was seen going through a limited practice with the team Wednesday, participating in stretch and positional drills during a media viewing period.

“We’ll see how he responds to that effort, and we’ll assess that the next day,” McDaniel said.

The decision comes as the Dolphins (6-2) prepare to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs (6-2) on Sunday in Germany.

It doesn’t mean Armstead will play against the Chiefs, but he returns to practice after the minimum four-week absence while on injured reserve for a knee injury sustained in the Oct. 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Armstead’s return could fortify a Dolphins offensive line that was down to having just one starter, right tackle Austin Jackson, playing in last Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots. Miami is also monitoring the groin injury that has kept center Connor Williams from playing in four of the past five games and the hamstring injury that right guard Robert Hunt sustained against the Patriots.

Williams, a limited participant in Wednesday practice, was active against the Patriots but did not play.

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“He’s excited. We have a good, trusting relationship,” McDaniel said about holding Williams out longer than the center hoped. “Holding him back, I think, in the moment, wasn’t necessarily his cup of tea, but in hindsight, he appreciates it.”

Hunt, who was seen watching practice on the side Wednesday, is day to day.

“He’s a little fresher,” McDaniel said of Hunt’s status Wednesday while the reliable right guard did not practice, “but he’ll be working toward trying to be able to get to practice.”

In the secondary, the Dolphins had safety Jevon Holland clear concussion protocol. He is on track to return to game action Sunday against the Chiefs.

“I feel good,” Holland said after the day’s drills. “It was irritating to not be on the field. There were a lot of plays out there, guys were flying around, and I was missing the fun. I definitely was having a little FOMO (fear of missing out) on the sideline.”

Meanwhile, fellow safety Brandon Jones did not travel with the team to go through protocol in South Florida after exiting late in the Patriots game from a hard hit from New England wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster while going up for an interception. McDaniel did not rule out the possibility of him joining the team later in the week.

“He’s back at home going through the process, which doesn’t mean he won’t be here,” McDaniel said. “From a health perspective, the best way to treat him was to leave him in Miami so he can work through that, and if you guys know Brandon, he’s working diligently.”

The Dolphins are expected to have cornerback Xavien Howard return after missing two games with a groin injury.

“I feel great right now,” Howard said after Wednesday’s practice, which he was limited in. “I’m ready to play this weekend. Just a little issue with the groin, but the team took care of me and I’m ready to play now.”

Howard’s return would mark the first game he plays opposite Jalen Ramsey, after Ramsey made his Dolphins debut against New England and had an interception.

Jones was the only Miami player on the active roster not seen at Wednesday drills at the practice facility of FSV Frankfurt, a German association football club. Hunt was seen watching practice, and tight end Durham Smythe and running back Raheem Mostert were working out on the side of practice. Both were limited with ankle ailments.

Quiet at trade deadline

The NFL trade deadline came and went at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and the Dolphins didn’t make a move.

McDaniel, whose office with the team spending the week in Frankfurt is adjacent to that of general manager Chris Grier just like in Miami Gardens, said he didn’t receive Grier’s patented knock on his door for a trade by 9 p.m. in Germany.

McDaniel had a positive outlook on how getting players like Ramsey, Armstead and running back De’von Achane, who was also working out with the team in Frankfurt while wrapping up his IR stint, serves as a greater acquisition than anything the team could’ve done at the deadline.

“We actually have several — the best trades that exist — in the works,” McDaniel said. “You’re talking about getting players, with no assets given, from injury. So we’re in a great spot.”

Raiders fire coach, GM

One singular McDaniel is apparently better than multiple — McDaniels.

The Las Vegas Raiders, Miami’s first opponent on the other side of its bye week that follows this week’s trip to Germany, fired coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler overnight.

The Raiders named linebackers coach and former NFL linebacker Antonio Pierce the interim coach and Champ Kelly the interim GM.

The Raiders are 3-5 and coming off a Monday night loss to the Detroit Lions where cameras caught star wide receiver Davante Adams express frustration in a sideline tirade. Dolphins host Las Vegas Nov. 19 after an idle week. …

— The NFL announced nominees for its Salute Service Award, which recognizes league players, coaches, staff and alumni who honor veterans and active members of the military. Long snapper Blake Ferguson was nominated from the Dolphins.

Inspired by his great grandfather, who was a World War II Navy veteran, and his best friend, an Air Force veteran, Ferguson has dedicated time, energy and involvement to team military initiatives.