Lawrence Timmons is back, after his 2018 salary guarantees are voided

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

I’m not sure how Lawrence Timmons can walk back into the Miami Dolphins locker room on Wednesday like it’s just another day of work, but the team brought him back.

Timmons went AWOL for a game two weeks ago against the Los Angeles Chargers, and it’s still unclear why he left the team. He was suspended, but that was lifted this week after just one game. Now Timmons is back, and without as much financial security.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald wrote that due to the suspension Timmons’ 2018 salary is no longer guaranteed. That’s $4.5 million in guaranteed money he was scheduled to make, but it’s not guaranteed anymore. Of course he still could make that money if he’s with the Dolphins next season, so Miami believes he has some incentive the rest of the season to not abandon his post. Salguero also wrote that coach Adam Gase likes Timmons and liked how he was playing in the preseason, so he’s back because he can help the defense.

In some ways Timmons’ two-game absence isn’t the worst news for the Dolphins because of the guaranteed money component. Had the Dolphins cut him next year, it would have cost them about $7.25 million in dead money on the salary cap. Now it will cost only $2.75 million if they cut him, Salguero wrote. Timmons will be 32 years old next season.

Timmons’ sudden disappearance was a weird story, and it seems to have calmed down now that he has returned. He’ll reportedly play for the Dolphins on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, like nothing happened. That part of the story might be over, but there could still be some ramifications next year for him.

Miami Dolphins line backer Lawrence Timmons has returned to the team after a two-game absence. (AP)
Miami Dolphins line backer Lawrence Timmons has returned to the team after a two-game absence. (AP)

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!

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