Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel gives injury update on Cam Smith, talks left guard competition
Dolphins rookie cornerback Cam Smith did not sustain a long-term shoulder injury in Friday night’s preseason-opening loss to the Atlanta Falcons, coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday. But the ailment will force Smith to be sidelined for some time.
McDaniel said the timeline is “grey. ... Next couple weeks, could be sooner than later.” McDaniel did not rule out Smith for the remainder of the preseason.
“It really has to do with how his body responds,” he said.
Smith appeared to injure his right shoulder in the third quarter and after finishing a drive, left with trainers for the locker room.
McDaniel said wide receiver Braxton Berrios, who received stitches on his forehead after taking a big hit on a punt return in the opener, will be out for a couple of days while the stitches heal.
Smith and Berrios participated in individual drills during practice on Sunday but were not involved in any team drills.
And McDaniel said the team is being cautious with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who injured his midsection in Thursday’s joint practice with Atlanta. Waddle was among several starters who did not play in the opener. McDaniel previously said Waddle did not sustain a serious injury. The third-year wideout did not practice on Sunday.
There is also no return timetable for tight end Tanner Conner and cornerback Keion Crossen, McDaniel said. Conner remains on the active/physically-unable-to-perform list, while Crossen has missed all but one training camp practice with an undisclosed injury. McDaniel said he expects Crossen to return to the field before Conner, but “might be vice versa.”
Left guard competition ongoing after preseason
Liam Eichenberg started at left guard in the opener as he looks to maintain the position he made 10 starts at in 2022. McDaniel praised Eichenberg’s play but said it’s a “fair assessment” that someone else will get an opportunity to start the second preseason game against the Houston Texans as the coaching staff continues its evaluation.
“[Eichenberg] had a cool week,” McDaniel said, “because he had some really good things and some things that frustrated him. And what I saw was a deliberate approach, better technique than last year and he played not scared and learned from the practice.” McDaniel also said that Eichenberg is “playing as good of football as he’s played.”
Eichenberg played two drives and then Isaiah Wynn, who was listed as his backup on the initial depth chart, entered the game at left guard. Wynn played well into the second half and left the game after the first drive of the fourth quarter. Robert Jones played the remainder of the game at left guard.
“Whoever that [starter] is will show his face,” McDaniel said, “and it’s not really up to my timeline. I’d love it to be sooner than later but that’s why you have to give guys opportunities to win the job on the field.”
Roster moves
The Dolphins on Sunday announced they signed wide receiver Keke Coutee and defensive back Jamal Perry. Miami waived wide receiver Freddie Swain and cornerback Mark Gilbert with an injury designation in order to open two spots for the additions.
Coutee, in jersey No. 88, and Perry, in No. 46, were at Sunday’s practice.
Coutee, 26, was released by the New Orleans Saints on Friday. A 2018 fourth-round pick of the Texans, Coutee has caught 85 passes for 966 yards and four touchdowns. Coutee, 5-11 and 180 pounds, also has experience as a returner. He played for the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 and 2022.
It’s another stint in Miami for Perry, who originally signed with the Dolphins in 2019. He made six starts that season and then appeared in 17 games (one start) in the next two seasons. He spent time on Miami’s practice squad in the 2022 season.
Swain left Friday night’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons with what a source said is a hamstring pull.
Miami Herald sportswriter Barry Jackson contributed to this report.
This story was originally published August 13, 2023 at 12:57 PM.
