As they explore their options, the Miami Dolphins reach out to veteran wide receivers
The Miami Dolphins have begun reaching out to available veteran wide receivers after two of their veteran receivers decided in recent days to opt out of playing this season.
Miami summoned veteran receivers Ricardo Louis and Chester Rogers to team headquarters for physical exams on Thursday, according to a league source. It was uncertain, as of Thursday afternoon, whether either would be signed.
Meanwhile, the agents for at least two other recognizable veteran free agent former starting receivers have reached out to the Dolphins hoping to pique their interest, according to a team source.
Available veteran receivers with starting experience include Dez Bryant, Paul Richardson, Jordan Matthews, Jarius Wright, Tavon Austin, Chris Hogan, Damaryius Thomas, Ryan Grant (not the running back) and Taylor Gabriel. Jermaine Kearse is available but not actively looking to play this season.
Louis, who attended Miami Beach High, was a Cleveland Browns fourth-round pick out of Auburn who caught 45 passes for 562 yards in 2016 and 2017. He appeared in all 16 games for the Browns in 2017, injuring his neck late in the season. The issue did not heal on its own, and Browns doctors deemed surgery was necessary in the summer of 2018.
He missed all of 2018 with the neck injury, joined the Dolphins in the spring of 2019, but then sustained a knee injury and missed all of last season. Miami re-signed him in the spring but released him last month.
Rogers joined the Colts as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Grambling State in 2016 and caught 111 passes for 1221 yards and five touchdowns over four seasons. He started 22 games for the Colts, including 10 and 6 the past two seasons.
Rogers also was a child actor, appearing in Madea’s Family Reunion and Dirty with Cuba Gooding Jr.
The Dolphins are exploring adding one or two veteran receivers after Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson announced they wouldn’t play this season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under contract at receiver: DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford, Gary Jennings, Mack Hollins and undrafted rookies Kirk Merritt (on the COVID-19 list) and Matt Cole.
Also, rookie running back Malcolm Perry has been asked to learn the slot receiver position.
Wilson and Hurns were the only Dolphins who filed paperwork by Thursday’s 4 p.m. opt out deadline. Players can still opt out and receive a $150,000 or $350,000 stipend/loan from the team if:
1) They receive a new diagnosis that places them at high-risk when they were not previously or if they are diagnosed with COVID-19.
2) If a player’s family member dies, is hospitalized, or otherwise moves to a medical facility because of COVID-19 or related condition.
If a player meets neither of those requirements and decides to opt out, a team could try to void the player’s contract. At the very least, the player’s contract wouldn’t toll to next season.
Those who opted out by 4 p.m. would have their contracts toll, meaning that Wilson - originally signed through this season - is now instead signed through 2021.
Here’s my story with Adam Beasley on a flurry of Dolphins COVID roster moves and some clarity.
Here’s my UM 6-pack with COVID news and other things.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 6:05 PM.
