Live blog: What’s happening at ongoing Miami Dolphins practice
The Miami Dolphins on Friday held the second of three voluntary May/June practices that will be open to the media.
Some news and notes, which we will update throughout the 10:30 a.m. practice:
▪ The three offensive player not present at the voluntary session: receiver Will Fuller, who also missed last week’s session, and two prominent running backs, who would likely be two of the top three on the depth chart if there were one: Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed.
Both were present at last week’s open session, so their absence Friday was surprising.
▪ The defensive players not present at the voluntary session: cornerback Xavien Howard, defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, linebacker Bernardrick McKinney, defensive lineman Zach Sieler and linebacker Brennan Scarlett.
Howard wants a raise and restructured contract, but his absence is not believed to be directly related to that. It’s unclear what Howard will do if he doesn’t get a raise, however. The Dolphins do not want to trade him, and he is not believed to have requested one.
Ogbah - who has one season left on a contract that will pay him $7.5 million next season - wants an extension, but it remains unclear if his absence is an attempt to express his displeasure about that.
Brian Flores declined to specifically answer when asked whether any of these absences are related to unhappiness over contracts.
Scarlett has been out of town but is expect to join workouts early next week.
Of those absent Dolphins defenders, only Sieler was in attendance at the previous session open to media.
▪ Among those who were at practice on Friday who weren’t at the practice that was open to the media last week: linebacker Jerome Baker, running back Malcolm Brown and offensive ilneman DJ. Fluker.
▪ Preston Williams was working on the side, as he continues to work his way back from foot surgery.
▪ 11 a.m. update: Unlike last week’s session open to reporters, there was some offense vs. defense work in Friday’s session, though it was limited to 7 on 7.
Tua Tagovailoa, displaying more zip on his passes, delivered a laser to Hunter Long for a sizable gain. and completed shorter passes to Durham Smythe and Jaylen Waddle. His only errant pass during a short throwing session was a sideline overthrow to Albert Wilson.
Waddle contorted his body to catch a 20-plus yard pass from Jacoby Brissett. Former UTEP quarterback Kai Locksley made a nice diving catch on a low throw from Brissett.
Jason McCourty dropped an interception on a poor pass from Reid Sinnett.
▪ 11:15 a.m. update: Center Cameron Tom, the former Saints backup center, has impressed the Dolphins. Matt Skura, Tom and Michael Deiter are competing at center.
We we aren’t permitted to write who’s with the starters, but we previously reported that Liam Eichenberg will have every chance to win the right tackle job.
11:30 a.m. update: Waddle, Jakeem Grant, Javon Holland and Lynn Bowden Jr. are catching punts. Waddle dropped two punts.
11:40 a.m. update; Flores previously included McCourty in the list of safeties (during an interview with WQAM’s Joe Rose) and we’ve heard nothing to suggest that he’s going to be a cornerback primarily here. But his ability to play both has value.
Tagovailoa ran an effective 2-minute drill down the field against a loose defense in 7 on 7 drills, but before Miami reached the end zone, the Dolphins then inserted Jacoby Brissett and started a new series of downs going the opposite direction. Brissett then led the Dolphins down the field before a Jason Sanders field goal.
11:45 update: Wilson was active today, catching several passes. His job on the team remains precarious, but he looks good after missing a year.
SMYTHE WEIGHS IN
Tight end Durham Smythe, entering the final season of his contract, declined to say whether agent Tom Condon has engaged the team on extension talks. “I love playing here,” he said. “I love the team.”
Smythe has been living with tight end Mike Gesicki, who - like Smythe - can become an unrestricted free agent next March. Gesicki also has declined to discuss that issue; he’s represented by Patrick Collins and Jimmy Sexton.
Smythe made progress as a receiver last season. “First two years, my primary responsibility was the run game and pass protection,” he said, noting the tight ends have been “trying to be more well rounded so we can stay on the field more.”
Smythe said he wasn’t surprised that tight ends coach George Godsey was named co-offensive coordinator.
“George is a very smart guy, an encyclopedia of offensive knowledge in general, wich has helped my development,” Smythe said. “He’s been an OC before [with the Houston Texans]. That’s where he’s going to thrive because he knows so much about it.”
Beyond Gesicki and Smythe, Baker is the other key player entering the final year of his rookie contract; he’s represented by Drew Rosenhaus.
Here’s what Brian Flores said on Friday morning, including comments about Tua Tagovailoa’s widely-discussed playbook comments.
Here’s my Friday Heat piece with some interesting stuff from Pat Riley about Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo.
This story was originally published June 4, 2021 at 10:48 AM.
