Real-time updates from Dolphins OTAs, including a number of significant absences
The Miami Dolphins held their first open practice since December on Wednesday, and here are news, notes and observations live as they come in, keeping in mind that this is a voluntary workout:
▪ Emmanuel Ogbah, who led the Dolphins with nine sacks in 2020, is among the Dolphins players not spotted by reporters.
It’s not immediately clear why, but his absence provides a bit of context into the team’s decision to bring free agent edge defender Melvin Ingram in for a visit Monday.
“Melvin as a player over the years I’ve seen him, he’s had a nice career,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said earlier in the day. “He’s had a very productive career. As a run player, as a pass rusher, as a disruptive defensive player, I’ve seen that from him.
“We do our due diligence on any player that available. That’s the case with Melvin. We brought him in and had conversations. I’m not going get into what those specific conversations were with Melvin or what our conversations have been internally about the possibility of adding him or not adding him.
“We do our due diligence. In this instance we’ll see where that is. We’ll see where it goes from here.”
Ogbah is entering the final season of a two-year, $15 million contract and is set to earn $7.5 million in base salary in 2021. He is believed to be seeking an extension, though it’s unclear if his absence Wednesday was related to that.
▪ More significant absences Wednesday: cornerbacks Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Justin Coleman and Jason McCourty, linebackers Jerome Baker and Benardrick McKinney, offensive tackle D.J. Fluker and receiver Will Fuller. Baker is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Howard has made it no secret that he wants a pay raise but a friend said his absence from OTAs is not directly related to that. With Howard, our understanding is his absence is more the case of him having nothing to gain from attending a voluntary session after an historic 10-interception season.
To this point, the Dolphins have not granted his request for a raise and restructured contract, according to a source.
▪ Receiver Preston Williams, who missed much of last year with a foot injury, was spotted on the field, walking briskly, but did not appear to be practicing.
He continues to work with trainers, and a team source said he’s expected back for the start of the regular season, if not sooner.
Williams had foot surgery late last season and is now able to do some running.
▪ Others not spotted on Wednesday: tight ends Adam Shaheen and Chris Myarick, linebacker Brennan Scarlett and defensive tackle Raekwon Davis, who was attending a graduation in Alabama this week.
▪ Rookie running back Gerrid Doaks was doing rehabilitation work and not practicing on Wednesday.
▪ Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns, who both opted out of playing last season, were at practice.
▪ Linebacker Elandon Roberts was practicing, just five months after he sustained what the team called a significant (knee) injury. His movement looked good.
▪ Reporters are not permitted to identify who’s playing what position (such as right tackle or slot corner) or identify who’s with the first team or second team.
But The Miami Herald previously reported - and nothing has changed - that the Dolphins planned to give Liam Eichenberg the chance to win the right tackle job, and have Jesse Davis compete with Solomon Kindley at left guard.
But there was no 11 on 11 work or 1 on 1 work in the two-hour session, not a single rep in which offense went against defense.
The team practiced at a pace that wasn’t exactly high speed, part of an agreement reached between the players and Brian Flores. The session was heavy on instruction.
Tua Tagovailoa threw a few short passes -- including two to Jaylen Waddle -- but no defensive players were in coverage.
Jibri Blount, the former North Carolina Central basketball player who’s trying to make the Dolphins as a tight end, showed good concentration on a 20-plus yard reception - near the sideline - on a pass thrown by Reid Sinnett. But as we’ve noted here, no defensive player was in coverage.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
This story was originally published May 26, 2021 at 12:47 PM.
