DAVIE, Fla. -- Linebacker Lawrence Timmons apologized to the Miami Dolphins during his first public comments since going AWOL from the team on Sept. 16.
However, Timmons would not specifically address the details of the incident and had a canned response to various lines of questioning from the media.
"To all the fans of the Miami Dolphins and to everyone, I'm just happy to be back here," Timmons said. "Sorry to the organization. I'm just happy to be a Miami Dolphin. I just want to play football and be the best I can."
Timmons said at least 15 times during a two-and-a-half minute press conference Wednesday that "I'm just happy to be here." He is coming off a one-game suspension, and Dolphins head coach Adam Gase said it's a "possibility" Timmons could play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints. Timmons had a full practice participation on Wednesday.
"We worked through a couple of things," Gase said. "L.T. handled the business he needed to handle and I'm glad he's back."
Various teammates, including quarterback Jay Cutler, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and running back Jay Ajayi view Timmons' return as a positive. Miami is coming off a 20-6 loss to the New York Jets and Timmons could provide a spark.
"I think Adam said it a couple of weeks ago, it's not a lot of rules here: Play hard and be on time," Cutler said. "L.T. knows that. He's going to come in here and do everything they asked him to do."
The Dolphins (1-1) travel to London to face New Orleans (1-2) and Gase is confident Timmons is ready to contribute.
"I felt good about where we were at with him," Gase said.