The Miami Dolphins will play Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers without starter Lawrence Timmons, one of the team's two every-down linebackers.
Timmons, an 11-year veteran who is beginning his first season with the Dolphins, reportedly went AWOL on Saturday according to Fox Sports.
A league source said the Dolphins have found him, and are trying to gather more information about his disappearance.
With Timmons, a former Pittsburgh Steelers standout who was signed to a two-year, $12 million deal this offseason, not able to play Mike Hull will likely be the linebacker paired with Kiko Alonso in Miami's nickel package.
Chase Allen, an undrafted rookie from Southern Illinois, will start on the strong side spot Timmons typically plays in the base defense. The Dolphins other option would have been Justin March-Lillard, a former Kansas City Chiefs starter who joined the team two weeks ago after being claimed off the waiver wire.
Rey Maualuga, an eight-year veteran the Dolphins signed a month ago, didn't practice with the Dolphins all week because of a hamstring injury. Maualuga was ruled out of Sunday's game on Friday.
The Dolphins only have six linebackers on the 53-man roster, and with Timmons out they'll have four available for Sunday's game. That means there's a possibility Miami might be forced to use a safety like Reshad Jones or a pass rusher like rookie Charles Harris, the Dolphins' first-round pick, as a linebacker if injuries become a factor.
