Dolphins’ Ezukanma on what last season did to him. And DuBose on return from frightening hit
Entering the start of free agency next week, the Dolphins’ roster includes only five wide receivers who have played any snaps for them in a game: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Grant DuBose and Erik Ezukanma.
The first three are positioned to be the team’s top three receivers, and the Dolphins like DuBose’s upside. As for Ezukanma, the former fourth-round pick cannot even be sure he will be on the team after three low-impact seasons.
Ezukanma, who showed promise in multiple preseasons after the Dolphins drafted him in 2022, said he was humbled by spending most of last season on the practice squad.
The Dolphins opted to claim DuBose off waivers from Green Bay late last August instead of keeping Ezukanma on the 53-man roster to start the season. Late in the season, Ezukanma was moved to the 53-man roster after injuries to Dee Eskridge and others.
He finished the season playing just 18 snaps on offense with no receptions; he has one catch (for 3 yards) in five games over three seasons.
“I feel like it was a very humbling experience I might have needed,” Ezukanma said. “Everyone’s dream is to make it to the second contract. Sometimes you need to be where your feet are [and not get distracted by the future]. It was a very humbling experience, and I was glad to be” retained on the practice squad at least.
What did coach Mike McDaniel and since-dismissed receivers coach Wes Welker convey they wanted to see from him?
“Consistency,” Ezukanma said. “Be consistent every day, be the same person every day. In this industry, it’s hard getting up every day and being the same person. Everybody goes through their things. Consistency is the No. 1 thing.
“I feel I’ve matured a lot, understanding the locker room, talking to guys, uplifting each other, giving everyone confidence.”
Ezukanma’s knowledge of the playbook was called into question by coaches during his rookie season, but he said he has a firm grasp of it now. In limited game action, “when my number was called, I made the plays I needed to make, blocked the guys I need to block. I feel I got open on most of the routes I ran.”
But apparently not to the extent that coaches wanted to see in practice.
Does Ezukanma believe he has the skill set to be a productive NFL receiver?
“There are guys you watch in prime-time games when you’re at home, and you know you’re better than most receivers in the NFL, just based on your confidence in yourself,” he said. “You see guys out there. They are usually out there because they are gaining trust of their coaches and are consistent every day. Being a pro is more than being a good football player.”
This could be his final NFL chance, at least here. If he makes the team, he will earn $1.1 million in the final season of his rookie contract; none of that money is guaranteed.
Meanwhile, DuBose said after the season that he’s fine after a brutal collision and serious concussion that left him motionless on the Houston Texans home turf for several minutes, before he was removed on a stretcher and taken to a local hospital.
DuBose, who took a helmet-to-helmet hit from safety Calen Bullock in that Dec. 15 game, said he was induced into a coma as part of the recovery process. He said he expects to be fine for the offseason program.
A former Packers seventh-round pick out of Charlotte, DuBose didn’t play as a Green Bay rookie in 2023 and caught two passes for 11 yards in three games for the Dolphins last season. He missed a large chunk of the season with a shoulder injury.
“It’s been an uphill battle,” he said. “A lot of things that happened weren’t necessarily in my control.”
He said at 6-2, “I can bring something a little different typically than what we’ve had in this room. It’s a smaller receiving room, and I can bring a little size to the room. I have a certain skill set to make contested catches. I’m a complete receiver, honestly. Now it’s being able to get out there and being able to showcase my abilities.”
Among other Dolphins receivers, Eskridge, River Cracraft and Braxton Berrios are free agents and seventh-round pick Tahj Washington is on the mend after missing his rookie season with an undisclosed injury sustained before training camp.
The Dolphins likely will add at least one veteran free agent receiver from a deep group that includes these players.
