Another big-name Miami Dolphins wide receiver opts out. So what’s the plan now?
The Dolphins’ wide receiver room has taken a combination of COVID-19 related body blows this week.
The latest gut punch: Albert Wilson has elected to opt out over coronavirus concerns, just one day after fellow Dolphins receiver Allen Hurns did the same.
Wilson explained his decision, which he said was “not an easy one to make,” on Twitter on Wednesday morning:
“I’ve decided to opt out this 2020 season. It was [a] very tough choice but since the day I started playing the game it’s always been Faith Family Football. Because of this crazy time I choose to put my family in the best situation I see fit. I will stand by my teammates and brothers and support them 100 percent throughout this season and will be counting the days until I can join them again. 1 love.”
Wilson, who caught 69 passes for 742 yards and five touchdowns in two seasons with the Dolphins, was expected to be the team’s primary slot receiver this year.
And he had hopes of a big bounceback season, fully recovered from the hip injury in 2018 that took a step off his speed in 2019.
“I support Albert’s decision,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “I know he made it with his family in mind. I want what is best for Albert, as I do all of our players.”
Added Dolphins defensive end Christian Wilkins: “In this kind of situation, with so many unknowns and this is clearly a worldwide pandemic, to each his own. You’ve just got to respect guys and their decisions. I’m not going to knock a guy if he decides to opt out. I’m not going to knock a guy if he wants to keep playing. Guys got their own personal things in their life. They’ve got to deal with it the best they feel.”
Wilson’s decision to opt out leaves the Dolphins suddenly thin at receiver. In Wilson and Hurns, the Dolphins have lost arguably their best slot receivers.
Among the experienced remaining receivers on the roster, DeVante Parker, Jakeem Grant and Isaiah Ford all have experience in the slot, and Gary Jennings played in the slot extensively at West Virginia.
But Grant has played on the boundary for most of his big receiving games, and Parker is Miami’s top boundary receiver. There are two other interesting internal slot options who aren’t wide receivers by trade.
According to Pro Football Focus, Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki lined up in the slot 461 times last season, compared with 159 times inline. Excluding the four snaps Gesicki played on kick returns, he lined up in the slot 66 percent of the time, compared with 23 percent of the time as a traditional tight end.
What’s more, of all position players who played a minimum of 200 snaps in the slot, Gesicki finished fourth in receiving touchdowns, 11th in completion percentage and 17th in receiving yards.
Among players with a minimum of 200 snaps in the slot, he was the only tight end to rank in the top 10 in receiving yards from the slot, according to fantasyfootballers.com.
If the Dolphins opt to use Gesicki primarily in the slot, Miami could decide to give a significant role to tight end Adam Shaheen, who was recently acquired from the Chicago Bears, or veteran Durham Smythe.
Dolphins seventh-round pick Malcolm Perry, the former Navy quarterback, is being listed as a running back but has the skill set to become a slot receiver. And the team has asked him to learn the slot receiver position, according to a team source.
The Dolphins are expected to take a look at him at both running back and receiver, and Navy offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper said Perry reminds him of Julian Edelman and Antwaan Randle-El, two former college quarterbacks who excelled as receivers in the NFL.
Among external options, the group of remaining free agent receivers with slot experience includes, among others, Tavon Austin, Jarius Wright, Taylor Gabriel, Jordan Matthews and Chris Hogan.
Other available veteran receivers include Paul Richardson and Damaryius Thomas.
This story was originally published August 5, 2020 at 11:31 AM.
