McDaniel updates injuries, decision to take Dolphins to Germany early and more issues

Four Dolphins offensive line starters continue to deal with injuries, but there is some measure of good news:

Left tackle Terron Armstead will accompany the team to Germany and Mike McDaniel suggested his 21-day practice window would open on Wednesday. Depending on how he progresses, he could be activated Sunday or after the Nov. 12 bye. He has missed the past four games with a knee injury but is now eligible to come off injured reserve.

Right guard Robert Hunt’s hamstring injury does not appear to be a long-term issue. McDaniel called his status “day to day.” Hunt sustained the injury in the second quarter against New England and made an effort, at halftime, to warm up to return to the game but was unable to.

Center Connor Williams could be ready Sunday. He was active against the Patriots but didn’t play because it was

“a protective measure,” McDaniel said. “He was able to play. We were worried about the ramifications if he did play over the course of a four-quarter game.

“We had him there in case a catastrophe happened and we were close to that, or if we had to shuffle. There was a couple variables where we might have to shuffle Liam Eichenberg out of the center position if certain people got hurt, so we had a plan of that.”

Dolphins safety Jevon Holland, who missed Sunday’s Patriots game, remains in concussion protocol but “is doing well” and “progressing how we want,” McDaniel said.

Left tackle Kendall Lamm (who missed five snaps on Sunday with an abdominal injury) and defensive players Zach Sieler and David Long Jr (who both went into the injury tent during the game but returned) are all “day to day,” McDaniel said, sounding optimistic about the status of all three.

Tight end Durham Smythe was walking around the locker room with a walking boot, but is moving well. Smythe is “as tough as they come,” McDaniel said, noting he “will battle through that.”

McDaniel addressed other issues:

▪ The Dolphins will be practicing this week in Germany, while the Chiefs will begin preparations in Kansas City.

Why did McDaniel decide to fly his team to Germany on Monday evening?

“There’s so many people that haven’t been to Germany and I kind of wanted to get settled and have a post-Tuesday – so Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – that was more routine as well as I didn’t want people – you have a player day off, why don’t you use that to see the sights as opposed to getting there late,” he said. “I was kind of nervous about people trying to cram in sightseeing.

“I think it provides an opportunity to go as a team, spend time together, spend the player day off together, and further cement some memories for us to hold on to as we progress on this journey with this team. That was kind of my thought process behind it. There’s some science stuff that I won’t bore you. Don’t call me on that because I can’t – it was like back from May or April when we made this decision, so I can’t really remember the science.”

▪ While the team is in Germany, McDaniel will encourage players to “do things together. There’s strength in numbers.”

▪ Salvon Ahmed and Jeff Wilson Jr. played the same number of offensive snaps on Sunday (19 apiece). Why is Ahmed playing as much or more than Wilson in Wilson’s first two games back?

McDaniel said it’s about Ahmed “and his development” as opposed to Wilson returning from injuries. “It’s more about deserving opportunities and doing whatever you can control with those opportunities. What S.A. has carved out since last year, he necessitates the opportunity to make plays. He did it all preseason. He has proven in games this year he’s a playmaker. When they get hot, we keep feeding the hot hand.”

▪ McDaniel watched Patrick Mahomes before he was drafted as a gunslinger out of Texas Tech: “You knew he had a chance to be exception to the rule. He wasn’t playing in any rhythm and timing offense. It felt very different than the NFL game. He could make every throw. You could tell he was a special human being. It has been cool to watch him develop. He might be the best player in the NFL.”