The Miami Dolphins will be without edge rusher Chop Robinson for Sunday’s Week 2 road game against the San Francisco 49ers after he sustained a concussion during practice this week.
Head coach Jeff Hafley confirmed Friday that Robinson remains in the NFL concussion protocol and will not play. Robinson was listed as a limited participant Wednesday before missing Thursday and Friday, closing the door on a short-week clearance and forcing Miami to rework its edge rotation against a San Francisco offense that opened the season with a convincing win.
Robinson’s Week 2 absence is now official
The important change from earlier in the week is certainty. Robinson’s concussion first appeared on Miami’s injury report after Wednesday’s practice, but the Dolphins had not yet assigned a game status. By Friday, Hafley made clear that Robinson would not be available in Santa Clara.
Miami’s official final injury report lists Robinson out after consecutive missed practices. Inside linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. is also out with a hamstring injury, while long snapper Tucker Addington is questionable with a shoulder issue.
Robinson’s absence is the most significant of those changes for the defense because Miami relies on him to create pressure from the edge and to hold up against the run. The Dolphins now have to replace both his pass-rush snaps and the early-down work he would normally handle.
This is Robinson’s third known NFL concussion
Robinson suffered two concussions during the 2025 season and missed games as a result. The practice injury this week is his third known concussion since entering the league.
That history does not provide a reliable timetable for his next return. Concussion recovery is handled through the league’s protocol, and Robinson must progress through the required stages before he can be cleared for football activity. Miami has not announced a Week 3 expectation.
The Dolphins’ immediate focus is therefore Sunday’s game rather than projecting beyond it. Robinson is out, and the defense has to operate without one of its primary edge players against the San Francisco 49ers.
Miami will use a committee off the edge
Hafley indicated that the Dolphins plan to spread Robinson’s work among several defenders rather than asking one player to duplicate his role. Josh Uche, Malik Herring, Rob Beal Jr. and Clelin Ferrell are among the options Miami can use on the edge, while Zeek Biggers has also taken snaps outside.
That approach gives the Dolphins flexibility, but it changes the rotation. Some of those players are newer to the roster, and a committee can require more situational substitution than a defense would normally use with a healthy starter.
Ferrell was elevated from the practice squad for the opener, making another game-day elevation one roster mechanism Miami can use if it wants additional depth. The final Saturday transactions will show whether the Dolphins believe the current active group is sufficient.
The pass rush needs a response after Week 1
Robinson’s absence comes at a difficult time for a Miami defense trying to improve after its season-opening loss to the Raiders. The Dolphins did not sack Kirk Cousins in that game, and Las Vegas also generated consistent production on the ground.
That does not make one player responsible for the entire defensive performance, but it raises the importance of finding pressure without Robinson. Miami needs the replacement edge group to affect the pocket without forcing the defense to rely on constant extra rushers.
San Francisco presents a different challenge. The 49ers can stress the edges with their run game, play-action concepts and movement, so Miami’s outside defenders have to remain disciplined while still creating pressure opportunities.
If the Dolphins cannot win enough one-on-one rushes, Hafley and defensive coordinator Sean Duggan may have to manufacture pressure with fronts, stunts or blitz packages. Those choices can create opportunities, but they can also expose coverage if the rush does not arrive.
Robinson’s absence also affects the run defense
The edge role is not only about sacks. San Francisco’s offense can force defenders to read motion, handle outside runs and maintain leverage before the quarterback ever drops back.
That makes Robinson’s lost snaps important even if Miami can replace some of his pass-rush production. The Dolphins need their edge rotation to set boundaries against the run and avoid creating cutback lanes for San Francisco’s backs.
Hafley expressed confidence in the players available, but the defense will still need clean communication because multiple players may cycle through the position depending on down, distance and personnel.
What to watch next
The first question is whether Miami elevates Ferrell or another defender from the practice squad for Sunday. The second is how the Dolphins divide Robinson’s snaps once the game begins.
Uche is an obvious pass-rush option, while Herring, Beal and Biggers can give the defense different body types and run-defense combinations. The exact workload may shift by situation rather than settling into a single replacement starter.
Robinson’s longer-term status will depend on his progress through the concussion protocol. For Week 2, though, there is no uncertainty left: Miami will face San Francisco without him and must find enough edge production from the rest of the rotation to prevent one injury from reshaping the entire defensive plan.
Sources
- Miami Dolphins: Jeff Hafley confirms Chop Robinson is out (September 18, 2026)
- Miami Dolphins: Week 2 injury report (September 18, 2026)
- NBC Sports: Robinson remains in concussion protocol and will miss Week 2 (September 18, 2026)
- Associated Press via NBC 6 South Florida: Robinson ruled out after practice concussion (September 18, 2026)