Dolphins to be on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’; Wynn out ‘weeks’, Holland in concussion protocol
MIAMI GARDENS — Ever wonder what those conversations between coach Mike McDaniel and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa are like?
Or what wide receiver Tyreek Hill is joking about in the Miami Dolphins’ locker room?
You’re in luck. The Dolphins, one of the NFL’s most intriguing and entertaining teams for both their personalities on the roster and play on the field this season, will now be opening their doors to exclusive behind-the-scenes footage.
The Dolphins will be featured on HBO’s in-season “Hard Knocks,” NFL Films, the Dolphins and HBO announced Monday afternoon. The reality sports documentary series is known to offer candid, comical and often revealing scenes from within NFL franchises.
“I wouldn’t call it a team decision,” McDaniel said.
Cameras will start filming sometime after the bye week, which is in two weeks, when the Dolphins return from their game in Germany against Kansas City.
“And then, as I understand it, it will be through the finality of the season,” McDaniel said, “so it’ll be part of our DNA after the Germany game at some point.”
McDaniel said he’s been assured no competitive secrets would be revealed.
The episodes will air on HBO and its streaming service, Max, with dates to be announced.
Since it began, “Hard Knocks” has aired for 19 seasons. The Dolphins were previously featured on it in 2012, the first year of the Joe Philbin era.
Most of the seasons cover a team in training camp, like the series just did with the New York Jets. They added in-season coverage in 2021, when the Indianapolis Colts were selected. Last year’s in-season team was the Arizona Cardinals.
Holland in concussion protocol, Long OK
Safety Jevon Holland is in concussion protocol, McDaniel said. Holland got put into the system Monday when he reported symptoms during a routine day-after examination.
Holland collided with linebacker David Long Jr. on a pass play in Miami’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and both went to the ground. Holland was cleared for a concussion during the game and returned to action soon afterward.
Long was cleared to return later and joined the team on the sidelines, but McDaniel said Long would have had to go through another warmup and by then it was too late in the game.
Safety Brandon Jones would likely start this Sunday against New England (-5) if Holland doesn’t return.
Ramsey could return this week … maybe
All Pro safety Jalen Ramsey, who has been sidelined since sustaining a left knee injury on the second day of training camp, could play this week against the Patriots, according to McDaniel.
But McDaniel was careful to say he didn’t want to make predictions about players returning from injury and that he’d stick to the idea that everything is day to day. Ramsey practiced with the scout team last week.
“We’ll take that a day at a time to make sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves, and when he’s ready to go, he can’t help himself, he will let me know,” McDaniel said, adding there’s nothing physically that will prevent Ramsey from returning soon.
“He’s done such an unbelievable job in getting to this point that you don’t want to non-sensibly just force an issue just because you want him on the field as fast as possible,” McDaniel said. “You’ve got to do right by the team and the player.”
Wynn out ‘weeks’
Left guard Isaiah Wynn will be out “weeks,” according to McDaniel, after sustaining a quadricep injury early against the Eagles.
“It wasn’t a bump or a bruise,” McDaniel said.
Lester Cotton, who started the Buffalo wild-card playoff game, filled in for Wynn, had a rough night with a holding penalty that negated a Hill touchdown and he also allowed four pressures.
If Cotton doesn’t get the job perhaps Robert Jones, who was recently activated from the injured reserve list, would get the starting job.
By the way, if Wynn doesn’t start the Dolphins could be starting three backups among Cotton, center Liam Eichenberg (Connor Williams is out with a groin injury), and left tackle Kendall Lamm (Terron Armstead is on injured reserve).
Waddle should be OK
McDaniel said wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who was limited to 22 plays against the Eagles due to a back ailment, should be OK.
“It’s something we’ll be on the front end side of trying to treat it,” he said, later adding, “They found a solution and got it loose, which is why he was able to come back in the game.”
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