Five thoughts from Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill, including health update and a Waddle prediction
Five quick thoughts from Tyreek Hill’s always entertaining media briefings:
▪ First, some serious stuff: While he didn’t admit that it a finger injury that sidelined him recently, he did say Monday that there’s no ongoing issue:
“I’m fine. Just needed some days off. I’m healthy. All my fantasy draftees, I’m fine, 100 percent.”
Coach Mike McDaniel said Hill returned to practice on Monday, as did Jaylen Waddle.
▪ Hill’s prediction for Waddle?
“All Pro this year,” Hill said. “He’s taken his game to another level in the classroom. He’s taking it more serious. He’s moved to the back of the classroom with me and River [Cracraft]. He’s asking more questions, which is great. He’s eager to get better. He’s done a great job taking advice from coach Wes [Welker], coach [Danny Crossman].”
▪ On the receiver room, which had no player above 5-10 on the 53-man roster before 6-2 Grant DuBose was claimed off waivers:
“I’m glad we added some [bleeping] height.”
The Dolphins also signed 6-3 Robbie Chosen to the practice squad.
“We have an interesting room,” Hill said. “”We have one of the best entire groups in the NFL as far as explosive, as far as big play ability. We have exactly what we need to win games. Coach Wes [Welker] does a great job.”
▪ On Mike McDaniel’s three-year contract extension through 2028:
“Absolutely love it. I’m glad they did the right thing. I read something on Twitter that every coach the Dolphins pay, they fire him a year later. Hopefully we can change that.”
▪ On this team: “This is the best team we’ve had since I’ve been here. Great time to be alive. We are all excited. We’ve got a lot of weapons, lot of playmakers on this team. Everyone is on the very edge of their seats, waiting for this moment....
“Tua [Tagovailoa] has done a great job overcommunicating exactly what he wants as far as details on routes. Mike has given him the keys to the car. That gives all of us the ability to play free and be ourselves and be creative in our routes.”
THIS AND THAT
▪ Hill cracked that he hasn’t seen receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a week. Beckham is beginning the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list after an undisclosed offseason procedure. By NFL rule, he’s required to sit out the first four games.
▪ Cornerback Jalen Ramsey went inside the team facility during the portion of practice open to reporters. In his last public comments about Ramsey’s health, McDaniel said he wasn’t concerned about it, with regard to his regular season availability.
Ramsey was the only Dolphin who didn’t participate in the part of practice open to reporters. Center Aaron Brewer, defensive tackle Benito Jones and linebacker Anthony Walker are all back practicing.
▪ Waddle is no longer wearing a red non-contact jersey.
▪ Some jersey number changes: Da’Shawn Hand is now wearing 90 and Emmanuel Ogbah is back to wearing 91. Marcus Maye is wearing 26.
▪ The Dolphins’ practice squad now has 16 players, one below the Dolphins’ limit.
On offense: quarterback Tim Boyle; receivers Chosen, Dee Eskridge and Erik Ezukanma; running back Deneric Prince; tight end Hayden Rucci and offensive linemen Chasen Hines, Andrew Hardy and Bayron Matos.
On defense: Defensive linemen Jonathan Harris, Naquan Jones; linebackers Dequan Jackson and William Bradley-King; safety Jordan Colbert and cornerback Nik Needham and Isaiah Johnson.
This story was originally published September 2, 2024 at 1:40 PM.
