MIAMI (AP) AWOL linebacker Lawrence Timmons wanted to rejoin the Miami Dolphins.
Instead, they suspended him indefinitely and traded for a replacement, moves that signal his disappearance from the Dolphins' defense may be permanent.
The Dolphins announced Timmons' suspension in a one-sentence news release Tuesday, a day off for the team.
They also acquired linebacker Stephone Anthony from the New Orleans Saints for a fifth-round draft pick in 2018.
Anthony, who has been nursing a sprained ankle, fell out of favor with the Saints after they took him with the 31st overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Timmons' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, declined to comment on the suspension. Coach Adam Gase was angered by the disappearance of the 11th-year veteran, which occurred Saturday in Los Angeles the day before Miami's season opener at the Chargers.
The Dolphins filed a missing person report before making contact with Timmons, who apparently was dealing with a personal matter. He wasn't with the Dolphins at the game and didn't fly back to South Florida on the team plane after Miami's 19-17 win.
Anthony started all 16 games for the Saints as a rookie, but was mostly a reserve last season for New Orleans' woeful defense. He has yet to play this season because of his injury.
Undrafted rookie free agent Chase Allen started in Timmons' place Sunday and made three tackles. Middle linebacker Mike Hull, making his second career start, played every snap and led Miami with 10 tackles.
Timmons signed a $12 million, two-year deal with Miami in March after 10 seasons with Pittsburgh, where he won a Super Bowl ring in 2009 and made the Pro Bowl in 2014.
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