Where Brandon Jones stands in return. And Achane impresses and Dolphins personnel notes
Back from an ACL injury, Dolphins safety Brandon Jones has found the early stages of training camp to be satisfying but also “super irritating.”
Satisfying because he’s back playing football for the first time since tearing an ACL in Week 7 last season. Irritating because his reps are being limited by trainers as he works his way back.
He said he participated in 12 plays during team drills in Tuesday’s joint practice against the Atlanta Falcons, with most of those reps coming in 7 on 7 work. He’s still wearing a red non-contact jersey.
“It’s been a little irritating to me,” Jones said. “Once I get going, [Dolphins trainers are] like, ‘OK, you’ve had enough reps for the day.’ There’s a science behind it. I trust those guys. They’ve got to hold me back from myself or I would be doing every rep. It’s super irritating.”
But Jones understands the Dolphins are simply looking out for his health. He said he has had no setbacks or swelling in the knee.
“I’m still not as explosive and fast as I want to be,” he said. “I’m still explosive and fast. It’s coming along.”
Is there any doubt he will be ready for the Sept. 10 opener at the Chargers?
“In my mind, no,” he said. “My goal is to be ready in Week 1.”
Already one of the best blitzing safeties in football, Jones had made major strides in his pass coverage skills early last season before a torn ACL sidelined him in Week 7.
He might be asked to cover more and blitz less in Vic Fangio’s defense; Fangio historically blitzes less than his Dolphins predecessor, Josh Boyer.
“I feel I haven’t really gotten a chance to showcase what I can do in the middle of the field, two high shell safeties,” Jones said. “My confidence is at an all time high. I feel I have a lot to prove, showing people I can do what I know I can do.”
Fangio’s defense is “completely different” from Boyer’s, he said. “It gives the DBs and the safeties a lot of freedom to give different looks and put the keys in our hands depending on the formation. We’re able to make the check ourselves. I’m excited.”
Jones is competing with his former Texas roommate, DeShon Elliott, for a starting safety job. The Dolphins listed Jones with the starters, alongside Jevon Holland, on the first official depth chart.
Jones said he didn’t know the Dolphins listed him with the starters on the depth chart distributed to media, but “it obviously means a lot. We’re still competing to try to figure out who’s going to be the starter.”
He acknowledged that “starting is important to me” and notes that he and Elliott “were friends before we started playing.”
ACHANE IMPRESSES
Rookie running back De’Von Achane had an impressive run between the tackles during Tuesday’s joint session with the Falcons – more evidence that he’s not simply a threat on the edges.
“He can cut on a dime,” receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “He’s hard to get down. His balance is crazy. He had a crazy run today.”
Jones said Achane “is similar” to retired three-time Pro Bowler Chris Johnson, who was 2009 AFC Offensive Player of the Year: “He’s physical, does a good job of reading blocks. He’s fast but makes it look effortless.”
Quarterback Mike White said of Achane: “He’s very talented. You can see that from day one when he got here. Athletically, he’s very gifted. He’s starting to really learn the nuances of the pro game. The pass pro, running between the tackles. He’s not just a gadgety speed guy.
“He can pick up [pass rushers]. And that fires you up. That makes you want to get the ball more to him as a quarterback. It’s a very selfless job, picking up a linebacker full speed. He has a long way to go, like we all do. But the progression we’ve seen is really cool.”
THIS AND THAT
The Dolphins ended up with six players voted among the top 100 by their peers in the annual NFL Network poll.
Tyreek Hill finished seventh overall, Jalen Ramsey 36, Waddle 44, Christian Wilkins 81, Tua Tagovailoa 82 and Terron Armstead 83.
“It’s great,” Waddle said of the Dolphins’ presence on the top 100 list. “We have a lot of talent on this team and guys who have had a lot of success in this league for a long time. It’s good for this organization.”
▪ Waddle has a chance to become the first Dolphins receiver to produce 1,000 receiving yards three seasons in a row. “Ultimately it’s a goal,” he said when asked about it.
Mark Duper and Mark Clayton both reached 1,000 in two consecutive seasons but never three times in a row.
▪ As ESPN’s Adam Schefter said, the reason the Dolphins haven’t been able to reach a long term deal with Christian Wilkins, after months of negotiations, is the defensive tackle market has produced higher contracts than the Dolphins expected in recent months.
The Jets’ Quinnen Williams agreed to a four-year, $96 million extension in June, after the Giants and Dexter Lawrence agreed to a four-year, $90 million extension in May.
Wilkins is earning $10.7 million this season. The Dolphins can place the franchise tag him on him next March - which would more than double his salary - if they don’t reach a multiyear deal.
Quick aside on the talkative Wilkins: White said he heard Wilkins trash talk “from the sidelines” of a Jets-Dolphins game last year, when Wilkins was on the field and White on the sideline. “But he backs it up,” White said. “You can’t get annoyed by it. You’ve got to respect it.”
This story was originally published August 8, 2023 at 3:12 PM.
