Dolphins get Holland back, reportedly will face rookie Saints QB in first NFL start
The Dolphins got their standout safety back on Thursday.
And their defensive backfield received additional good news, even though they would never publicly characterize it as such:
The Dolphins reportedly will face a rookie quarterback on Monday in New Orleans.
New Orleans is placing quarterbacks Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian on the reserve/COVID-19 list, leaving rookie Ian Book in line to start Week 16, NFL Network reported Thursday. Jameis Winston, who began the season as the Saints’ starter, is on injured reserve with a torn ACL.
Book, a fourth round rookie from Notre Dame, has not played a regular-season NFL snap.
Book threw for 73 touchdowns and 20 interceptions and completed 63.8 percent of his passes in four years at Notre Dame. He threw 15 touchdowns and three interceptions as a senior last season.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who coached Book at the Senior Bowl, told ESPNU at the time that Book “is smart, loves the game, is tough. He has command of the huddle. Command at the line of scrimmage. He did well for himself this week.”
Book, who stands 6-feet, completed 9 of 16 passes for 126 yards in a preseason game for the Saints.
Here’s how NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein assessed Book before the draft:
“Notre Dame’s winningest quarterback brings plenty of leadership and overall intangibles with him. He has big game experience in his background, too. However, his size and arm strength fall below NFL standards and there isn’t anything in his game that he can really hang his hat on that counters those issues. He makes receivers work too hard for the catch and was dreadful throwing outside the numbers in 2020.
“He’s effective in RPO calls. He also does a nice job of feeling pocket pressure and sliding around it or getting outside the pocket to make plays. He’s a capable runner and a plus athlete but doesn’t have the necessary play traits to make a splash in the NFL.”
Cornerback Byron Jones said Book “is a mobile guy who can run and throw.”
This will be the Dolphins’ third game this season against a rookie quarterback.
In the opener at New England, rookie Mac Jones completed 29 of 39 passes for 281 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, equal to a 102.6 passer rating.
Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence completed 25 of 41 passes for 319 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions, which computes to a 93.4 passer rating.
Last Sunday against the Jets, Zach Wilson completed 13 of 23 passes for 170 yards, equaling an 80.0 passer rating.
But as a pro prospect, Book was rated significantly behind those three first-round rookies.
Dolphins left tackle Liam Eichenberg, who played with Book at Notre Dame, said: “I’m very excited for him. Wish him the best of luck. I hope everything goes well for him and he stays healthy. He throws a very good ball, tight spiral, pretty accurate quarterback. You know what you’re going to get with him.
“Pretty consistent guy. In college, he was good at escaping the pocket. He’s definitely a guy you want to keep in the pocket.”
COVID UPDATE
The Dolphins’ defensive backfield was fortified by the return of Holland, who cleared COVID-19 protocols and was permitted to practice on Thursday. He will be available for Monday’s game.
But the Dolphins’ lost three more players to the COVID-19 list on Thursday, with the virus sidelining tight end Cethan Carter, offensive lineman Greg Mancz and linebacker Duke Riley.
Riley has played 200 snaps on defense and 229 on special teams and had taken on a larger role on defense in recent weeks, allowing Jerome Baker to play outside linebacker more often. But Riley logged only nine snaps against the Jets on Sunday.
Carter has played only 47 snaps on offense this season but 237 on special teams. Mancz is Michael Deiter’s backup at center.
That means the Dolphins now have seven players on the COVID-19 list. Those three join cornerback Justin Coleman, offensive lineman Robert Jones, practice squad running back Gerrid Doaks and receiver Lynn Bowden Jr., who’s on injured reserve and ineligible to return this season.
Vaccinated players can return when they display no symptoms and after producing one negative test and another rapid-test negative result.
Meanwhile, receiver Albert Wilson remained out today for personal reasons, but Flores said he will be available Monday at New Orleans.
Running back Phillip Lindsay (ankle) and tight end Adam Shaheen (knee) were limited for Dolphins during Thursday’s walk-through practice.
This story was originally published December 23, 2021 at 12:51 PM.
