Dolphins pass rusher Chop Robinson’s in the NFL’s concussion protocol

The Miami Dolphins could be forced to play Sunday’s road game against the San Francisco 49ers without one of the team’s starting pass rushers.

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Chop Robinson had his practice participation limited on Wednesday because of a concussion he seemingly suffered at some point this week, possible at practice on Wednesday.

Robinson, the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick, participated in Wednesday practice without a red jersey on. A red jersey indicates a player should not be contacted/hit during practice. Not having one on means Robinson is either concluding the NFL’s concussion protocol, which requires a player to sit out practice until concussion systems subside, then practice without contact, and finally with contact.

Those are all the steps a player must clear before he’s allowed to participate in a game, and the process often takes longer than one week.

Robinson contributed one tackle in the 42 defensive snaps he played in Miami’s 27-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday.

That game was his fifth career start, and the Dolphins are counting on him to provide edge setting, and pass rushing for the defense. Both happened to be areas the team struggled with in Sunday’s loss to the Raiders.

The Dolphins have limited options if Robinson isn’t cleared to play against the 49ers. Josh Uche began the season as the starter opposite Robinson, and Zeek Biggers has worked as a six-technique defensive end, primarily playing on obvious running downs.

Outside of those two, Malik Herring, a newcomer the Dolphins signed two weeks ago, and Robert Beal Jr., a fourth year veteran who hasn’t made an NFL start in the 26 games he’s played, are the only options available on Miami’s 53-man roster.

NFL veteran Clelin Ferrell, Rodney McGraw, Amari Gainer, and Max Llewellyn, a rookie, are four edge rushers on the practice squad. The Dolphins called Ferrell up to the game day roster last week and used him on defense. Miami could take the same approach on Sunday.

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“You job as a coach is to prepare every player. You never know what can happen,” said defensive coordinator Sean Duggan. “It’s an unpredictable game. You should always have the mindset you’re getting everybody ready to play.”

The Dolphins allowed the Raiders to produce 130 rushing yards on 37 attempts, and early in the fourth quarter, before Las Vegas began running the ball to kill the game clock, the Raiders averaged 5.1 yards per carry.

“I felt like we kind of tip toed a little bit, especially early in the game. I think they got more comfortable as the game went on,” Duggan said. “What I want to see if guys be confident, and cut it loose a little bit, but [stay] within the realm of our defense, and have great fundamentals.”

Ferrell, a former first round pick who is beginning his eighth NFL season, has started 57 regular season games, which is the most of all Miami’s edge rushers.

But NFL teams only have two practice squad elevations for each game, and it’s highly likely that one will be used on new long snapper Cal Adomitis, who was signed on Wednesday to the practice squad, likely to address the shoulder injury Tucker Addington suffered against the Raiders.

Quarterback Malik Willis, who is nursing a toe injury, participated in practice without limitations, as did safety Dante Trader Jr., who is nursing a hamstring injury.

Rookie tight end Seydou Traore had his participation during Wednesday’s practice limited because of a thumb and Achilles injury.

Linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr., who is nursing a hamstring injury, was held out of Wednesday’s practice while working on the side with team trainers.

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This story was originally published September 16, 2026 at 7:42 PM.