Dolphins again experiment with a lineman at new position. And thoughts from Miami’s new CB
Last year, the Dolphins signed an NFL guard (Connor Williams) and immediately made him a center.
This year, the Dolphins signed an NFL tackle (Isaiah Wynn) and immediately made him a guard.
In Williams’ case, playing center was entirely new.
In Wynn’s case, it wasn’t new, but in some ways, it very much feels new.
It has been six years since Wynn last played guard, as a junior at the University of Georgia. He played exclusively tackle for the Patriots for the past four seasons.
But the Dolphins are using Wynn at left guard. Wynn, as a result, was given a chance to beat out Liam Eichenberg at left guard instead of starter Austin Jackson at right tackle.
On Wednesday, coach Mike McDaniel declined to say which of those two players — Eichenberg or Wynn — would start at left guard on Sunday at the Chargers (4:25 p.m., CBS). Wynn started the final two preseason games at left guard, but Eichenberg was injured one of those weeks. Eichenberg is now healthy.
What did Wynn think about the Dolphins moving him to guard?
“It doesn’t matter,” he said. “I have experience at both. It’s been enjoyable. I enjoy this team, the o-line, the room. It’s been real good.”
Does he feel rust at left guard after a half decade at tackle?
“It’s a new position,” he said. “It’s always an adjustment period. The more reps I get is all good.”
And he has received lots of reps at guard, playing there almost exclusively since training camp started.
One other offensive line note: Left tackle Terron Armstead — who sustained a leg injury in training camp — did not practice Wednesday, and McDaniel declined to say if he expects Armstead to play on Sunday against the Chargers. Armstead told NFL Network last week that he’s hopeful about playing on Sunday. Last season, Armstead regularly played without practicing during the week.
JOSEPH EXCITED
▪ When high draft picks are traded after a nondescript tenure with the team that drafted them, you often hear the expression “maybe a change of scenery will help.”
Cornerback Kelvin Joseph — a 2021 second-round pick who didn’t get a lot of defensive opportunities in his two years with Dallas — hopes that will be the case with the Dolphins, who acquired him last week for Noah Igbinoghene.
“I feel like I’m just in the right place where somebody needs me to showcase my full potential,” Joseph said. “It’s a blessing just to be here, to still be in the league. I mean, I’ve just got to embrace it and be ready to play.”
In addition to playing on the boundary, the Dolphins believe the 6-1, 192-pound Joseph can play the nickel corner role — even though he was primarily an outside corner at LSU and Kentucky and during his first year with the Cowboys.
“Last year in Dallas; really, this year in the offseason,” he said of his experience in the slot. “It’s my first time and it’s been smooth so far. [To play in the slot], you’ve just got to be aggressive as hell because you’ve got to make that tackle, when linemen get on you and you have to get them off you. It’s pretty different from outside because it’s a lot more contact.”
Speed isn’t a question with Joseph; he has been timed as fast at 4.28 in the 40-yard dash.
He said having former Pro Bowl cornerback Sam Madison and legendary coordinator Vic Fangio coaching him will only help. “I can see it already,” Joseph said.
Joseph finds music to be an outlet; he made a rap album earlier in his career.
“It just helps me vent,” he said. “Different hobby besides just football. I’ve made a lot of music.”
▪ Besides Armstead, the only other Dolphins player not at practice was safety Elijah Campbell, who has a knee injury. Cornerback Justin Bethel returned to practice for the first time since Aug. 9.
This story was originally published September 6, 2023 at 1:39 PM.
