Redwine, Duke Johnson latest to join journey from Canes to Dolphins. And an injury report
The number of Dolphins who also played high school and college football in South Florida has grown during the past decade, with Olivier Vernon, Lamar Miller, Allen Hurns and others.
Sheldrick Redwine and Duke Johnson — two former Miami Hurricanes and Cleveland Browns draft picks — this week became the latest additions to that prestigious club.
“Me and Duke have been talking about how excited we are to be able to come back home,” Redwine said Friday. “He’s from right down the street [Miami Norland High]. I’m from down south [Miami Killian], a little farther away. Allen Hurns, I’ve seen too.”
Hurns, from Miami Carol City High and UM, is on the Dolphins’ injured reserve list, out for the year.
“Being able to be around those guys, we understand each other, being from Miami,” Redwine said. “Being able to play with each other is a great feeling. They’re a different generation of Hurricanes than I am. I am going to learn from them.”
Redwine, signed off Carolina’s practice to replace the injured Jason McCourty on Miami’s 53 man roster, on Friday described himself as “ecstatic” to be a Dolphin.
“Growing up down here, it was always a dream of mine to play at Hard Rock for the Hurricanes and then be able to play for the Dolphins,” he said. “When it became a reality they called me, it was shocking. I had to really digest it. I was extremely happy to get down here and ready to go. I’m blessed.”
Redwine said the Dolphins never gave him any indication before the 2019 Draft that they had interest in him.
But “I always had a sense that I always felt I would end up back home,” he said.
How much information cramming is he doing this week to prepare for Sunday’s game at Buffalo, if he’s needed?
“Not too much,” he said. “I’m a football guy. I watch football like people watch TV. I spend two hours watching it like an entertainment but at the same time I’m learning the system.”
On Sunday, he will see Bills safety Jaquan Johnson, his longtime friend and former Miami Killian High and UM teammate.
“It’s crazy how things work out,” Redwine said. “Everyone knows me and Quan, playing little league and high school and college, being drafted the same year, have the same birthday ironically [Nov. 6].
“It will be a great experience. I got to go against him at Cleveland; it was funny having to block him. He blocked me. I’m going to mess with him [Friday on the phone].”
Redwine arrived at UM as a three-star prospect in 2015 and surprised everyone by becoming the highest-drafted Canes player in 2019, when Cleveland picked him in the fourth round, 119th overall.
He appeared in 27 games, with eight starts over two seasons for the Browns, producing 69 tackles, one interception and three passes defended.
But Cleveland released him in late August, and Redwine spent time over the past two months with the Jets (53-man roster and practice squad) and Carolina’s practice squad.
The Dolphins poached him from the Panthers this week to replace McCourty, who is out long-term. If he’s active, he would be Miami’s No. 4 or 5 safety behind Jevon Holland, Eric Rowe, Brandon Jones and special teams ace Clayton Fejedelem.
“We had some love for him coming out [of UM],” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said. “We think he has some ability. We’ll get him here, try to teach him the system and try to get him going. He plays in the kicking game as well. We’ll see.”
From his Cleveland experience, what did Redwine determine he needs to do better to stay in the NFL?
“Understanding the details of football. Football really comes down to the little things,” he said. “It’s really a game of inches.”
He said if he is fortunate to produce a takeaway as a Dolphin, it will feel strange not getting the turnover chain — a UM staple under coach Manny Diaz.
“But when I have the chance, I will definitely do what I have to do,” he said.
Redwine said he knew he had a chance to become an NFL player when during his junior year of high school, “my first interception was a game-winning interception against South Dade. After that, my stepdad, who was our coach, he came up to me and said, ‘Dominate whenever you want.’”
Ed Reed and Ray Lewis were his favorite players growing up.
As for Johnson, he was signed to the practice squad this week after being released from the Jaguars’ practice squad in September.
Johnson, 28, has started 17 NFL games and appeared in 91, averaging 4.2 yards per rush on 459 carries and scoring eight touchdowns as a runner while catching 307 passes, including 12 TDs, and averaging 9.2 yards per reception.
“He’s an experienced player,” Flores said. “He’s a good runner, good in the pass game and has been a productive player in the league. A lot of film, a good amount of production over the course of his career. Just kind of looking at the running back situation and what was available, we felt like that was the best that was available.”
Johnson, who was drafted 77th overall by Cleveland in 2015, averaged just 3.1 yards per carry on 77 rushing attempts in 11 games and five starts for Houston last season.
One running back — among Johnson, Gerrid Doaks and Patrick Laird — figures to be activated for Sunday’s game at Buffalo, in the wake of Malcolm Brown’s quadriceps injury. Brown will miss at least three games. Johnson appears the least likely to be active of the three.
Johnson couldn’t speak this week because the Dolphins don’t make practice squad players available for comment.
INJURY REPORT
The Dolphins listed linebacker Jerome Baker, receiver DeVante Parker, center Greg Mancz and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene as questionable for Sunday’s game against Buffalo. All four were limited in practice all week.
But Flores expressed hope earlier Friday that Baker and Parker would be able to play Sunday. Baker sustained a knee injury during last Sunday’s Atlanta game. Parker has missed three consecutive games with shoulder and hamstring injuries but said this week that he’s feeling better.
Austin Reiter would start a second consecutive game if Mancz (groin) cannot play. Starting center Michael Deiter is eligible to come off the injured list but isn’t yet healthy enough to do so.
BUTLER LOOKING
Adam Butler, who had 15 sacks in four seasons for New England, is still looking for his first sack or tackle for loss seven games into his Dolphins career.
“I think I can do more things,” he said Friday when asked about getting to the quarterback. “I just have to do them when the time comes.”
Pro Football Focus rates him 25th in the league among interior defense linemen against the run.
“My goal since I’ve been in the league is to be more involved in the run game,” he said. “I think I’ve gotten better the past few years.”
Here’s my Friday story with Brian Flores saying Tua Tagovailoa will be the starter for the remainder of the season while dodging Deshaun Watson questions. And more notes.
This story was originally published October 29, 2021 at 3:36 PM.
