Dolphins’ McDaniel updates Phillips injury, Beckham, Chubb, Armstead, starting QB and more

The Dolphins are sticking with Tyler Huntley as their starting quarterback in Tua Tagovailoa’s continued absence and are getting receiver Odell Beckham Jr. back, at least for practice.

But they will be missing Jaelan Phillips this week and potentially longer.

Phillips, who left Monday night’s loss to Tennessee with a knee injury, will miss Sunday’s game at New England (1 p.m., Fox), but Mike McDaniel said it’s unclear how long he will be sidelined beyond that.

Asked if Phillips will miss the season or be out for an extended period, McDaniel said: “Still working through it. He was in good spirits last night and good spirits today. I’m pretty comfortable saying he won’t be available on a short week. Information will provide clarity if it’s a multiple week thing.”

Phillips returned to the game after initially sustaining the injury before leaving for good.

Meanwhile, five players are eligible to return this week: linebacker Bradley Chubb, receiver River Cracraft, cornerback Cam Smith, receiver Odell Beckham Jr and guard Isaiah Wynn.

Of those five, Beckham and Smith will begin practicing this week, McDaniel said.

On the first day that Beckham and Smith practice, a 21-day clock will start; the players must either be moved to the 53-man roster before the conclusion of the 21 days or they will be ruled out for the season.

The expectation is that Beckham and Smith will be activated during the 21-day window; whether that’s sooner than later must play out.

Beckham is on the physically unable to perform list after an undisclosed offseason procedure; he hasn’t practiced at all this summer. Smith is on injured reserve after a hamstring injury in preseason.

Players on PUP and IR are eligible to be activated, or have their 21-day clock launch, after missing four games.

As for the other three players available to return, Chubb (Dec. 31 ACL injury), Cracraft (shoulder) and Wynn (quadriceps injury) continue to try to work their way back.

“Bradley had a pretty severe injury; he’s doing very well in his progression,” McDaniel said. “River is right on schedule. Wynn is diligently working.”

Tagovailoa isn’t permitted to return from injured reserve until the Oct. 27 game against Arizona. McDaniel did not directly answer when asked what stage of concussion protocol Tagovailoa is in, saying he would focus on that during the bye week.

But McDaniel said Tagovailoa is “doing well and very active.”

On another note, left tackle Terron Armstead and cornerback Kendall Fuller remain in concussion protocol, but are “doing better,” McDaniel said. “I’m anticipating tomorrow to get an uptick in participation in hopes of getting cleared this week.”

Safety Jordan Poyer, who left Monday’s game in the fourth quarter with a shin injury, is being evaluated. “I wouldn’t rule him out or in for this game,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel addressed other issues:

▪ On the booing at Hard Rock Stadium during Monday’s loss: “It didn’t hit me by surprise. It’s the big leagues. To feel entitled to blind support, that’s not my cup of tea. I don’t think people pay to go to Hard Rock Stadium to watch us lose.”

▪ On where the team stands at 1-3, McDaniel said “The answers are in house. There are some concrete, direct conversations that need to be had. It’s fair for me to want to keep those in house.”

▪ He said the offense “feels like an offense that’s not good enough. It’s a bottom line business... It’s our job to put forth a better product.”

But McDaniel liked how Huntley played and will stick with him Sunday.