Dolphins’ McDaniel addresses injuries, contract extension, other issues
Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who have been limited by injuries recently, will practice on Monday, coach Mike McDaniel said.
Hill has been dealing with a finger issue, while Waddle has been sidelined with a lower body injury. Neither has had any setback. Both are on track to play in Sunday’s opener against Jacksonville at Hard Rock Stadium (1 p.m., CBS-4).
Meanwhile, center Aaron Brewer and defensive tackle Benito Jones --- who have been sidelined with injuries for weeks -- will practice this week. There’s hope that they will be ready to play in Sunday’s opener, but McDaniel was giving no guarantees, cracking: “My crystal ball is broke.”
It’s anticipated that Brewer should be able to handle snapping with his hand injury, McDaniel said. Liam Eichenberg has been filling in at center in Brewer’s absence.
“I feel great about our starting offensive line” and contingencies, McDaniel said.
McDaniel addressed other issues on Monday:
▪ He said he learned that owner Stephen Ross wanted to give him a contract extension when McDaniel had dinner at Ross’ home “a couple weeks ago. I ate all of my steak.”
The three-year extension runs through 2028. “This is another reason to be motivated to attack each and every day to its fullest,” McDaniel said.
▪ On the Jaguars’ defense that Miami faces on Sunday, including skilled pass rushers Travon Walker (10 sacks last season) and Josh Hines-Allen (17.5 sacks last season): “Very talented group. [I noticed] how they come off the ball, how they play with consistent technique and relentless strain. That’s pretty obvious from the minimal game tape that we’ve watched.”
▪ With four skilled running backs on the 53-man roster, McDaniel wants to “get everyone involved and let the game take its course” and then ride the hot hand late.
▪ The Dolphins have plenty of options with their fourth and fifth receivers on Sunday, behind Hill, Waddle and Braxton Berrios.
They could use a combination of the two young players on the 53-man roster (Malik Washington, Grant DuBose) or the two veterans on their practice squad (Robbie Chosen, Dee Eskridge). Eriz Ezukanma, who has been dealing with a minor injury, also is on the practice squad.
“There are a couple different directions you can go,” McDaniel said. “We will take advantage of the extra day of practice to shape the direction we can go. I feel very good about where that room is at because of existing assets we have and people we were able to add fit the mode of what we’re trying to do.”
Those people, in recent days, were Chosen (who played for the Dolphins last season) and Eskridge, who has 17 receptions in 24 career games.
▪ On adding quarterback Tim Boyle to the practice squad: “There was good overlap tape in previous years. This preseason, I think he did a great job. It helped previously having personal connections with Bobby Slowik in Houston and Matt LaFleur in Green Bay. We’re fired up to have him.”
CAPTAINS NAMED
The Dolphins announced their captains, as voted on by players: Tua Tagovailoa, Jalen Ramsey, Tyreek Hill, David Long, Alec Ingold, Terron Armstead, Zach Sieler and Calais Campbell.
This story was originally published September 2, 2024 at 10:57 AM.
