Dolphins’ McDaniel updates status of Sieler and Chubb and addresses trade deadline, more

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said he’s optimistic that defensive lineman Zach Sieler will be available for next Monday’s game at the Rams after missing two games with a fractured orbital bone.

He also said that he’s optimistic that outside linebacker Bradley Chubb will play at some point this season. He hasn’t played this year because of last December’s torn ACL and another undisclosed leg injury.

McDaniel didn’t offer a timetable on when Chubb would be ready to play.

“I saw him outside my window running,” McDaniel said. “There is hope and optimism but we will see how that plays out.”

Chubb and Jaelan Phillips (out for the season with a torn ACL) are badly missed. The Dolphins have just 10 sacks in eight games.

McDaniel addressed other issues on Monday as his team turns its attention to next Monday’s game at the Rams (8:15 p.m., ESPN):

▪ Asked whether the Dolphins would be buyers or sellers before Tuesday’s trade deadline, McDaniel said he didn’t want to label what Miami is doing but made clear they believe in this core.

McDaniel said he and general manager Chris Grier “share a belief in this team if you can find a way to get over the hump, which we fully expect to.”

Grier “hasn’t brought anything that is real to me,” McDaniel said. “We are absolutely convicted in this team being better than the won-loss record.”

McDaniel also said Grier would do what’s in the franchise’s best “long-term” interests, though his overall comments did not suggest that Miami is considering trading valuable veterans for draft picks.

▪ Asked if he was irked by referees allowing receiver Mack Hollins to spot the ball (which is against the rules) on Buffalo’s final game-winning drive, McDaniel said:

“If you were able to spot things on your own, it does save time. Time was of the essence in that period of the game. That wasn’t the reason we lost the game. We had plenty of controllables that were in our hands...

“Officials have pluses and minuses every game. We have to focus on defending the field and not getting in the range of a field goal kicker with a strong leg.”

▪ McDaniel tried to take some positives from the 30-27 loss to Buffalo: “We played our best version [of ourselves] to this point in a lot of ways. It’s more validation we are much better than our record. But our record is what it is.”