MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins edge defender Chop Robinson cleared concussion protocol after Wednesday’s practice and is ready to play in Sunday’s home opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
“I feel great,” Robinson said after going through another full day of participation at Thursday’s practice. “Back on the field, ready.”
Robinson will now be available to boost a Dolphins pass rush that is yet to record a sack in Miami’s first two games this season.
“I think it’ll be great. Chop is a really good player. Any time you get really good players on the grass, you’re happy as a coach,” defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said. “His speed, his quickness, you can definitely feel it. It’s fun to have him back out there.”
Robinson first went into concussion protocol on Sept. 16, during the Wednesday practice in Napa, California between games out west against the Las Vegas Raiders and Kansas City Chiefs.
“Just a football hit and that was it,” Robinson said. “Back cleared, ready to go.”
Although it was Robinson’s third concussion in the past calendar year and fifth of his career since college at Maryland and Penn State, he cleared the league’s five-step protocol in a week. He went through the final stage, a full-contact practice Wednesday.
“Of course, I was sad about it when I was down there, against the 49ers, I couldn’t play,” Robinson said, “but listened to all the coaches and the training staff and I’m back to it.”
The concussion frequency, though, will have Robinson make a change. He will start to wear a Guardian cap in games. The Guardian cap offers extra padding for an outer layer of protection over the traditional football helmet.
“Being smart about it,” Robinson said. In the future, I want to have kids and a family and everything. There’s no harm in wearing it.”
Robinson arrived at that decision after talks with family and his fiancee. He started wearing it in practice this week and will use it for the first time in a game on Sunday.
Robinson still plans on having a lengthy career, despite overcoming five concussions.
“I love the game of football,” Robinson said. “I’m going to play as long as I can.”
And he hasn’t heard any push to retire from those in his inner circle.
“I’m only going into my third year,” Robinson said. “If somebody would talk about that with me, I’d feel some type of way about it. I’m not even thinking about that right now.”