A tale of 3 young corners: What happened with Dolphins’ Duck, Smith and Bonner. And notes
A six-pack of Dolphins notes on a Thursday:
▪ In a tale of three young Dolphins cornerbacks, one of them (Cam Smith) has again been sidelined to cap a disappointing second season, another (Storm Duck) now tries to rebound from his worst NFL game and another (Ethan Bonner) struggles to get on the field after playing in a wild card game just 11 months ago.
There was news at the position this week, with Kendall Fuller practicing fully on Thursday and set to return Sunday against the visiting Jets (1 p.m., CBS) after missing three weeks with a concussion. Kader Kohou (back injury) has been limited in practice this week.
If Kohou is limited in the game, that would mean more work for Duck, who played well until the Green Bay game. Against the Packers, he was rated Miami’s worst defender by Pro Football Focus after allowing all five passes in his coverage area to be caught for 71 yards and a touchdown.
Dolphins cornerbacks coach Mathieu Araujo said his message to Duck is “don’t make those repeat mistakes.”
Heading into that game, Duck had permitted only nine of 15 targets to be caught for just 69 yards and no TDs.
Overall, “he’s done an amazing job for us,” Araujo said Thursday. “He had some learning lessons in that game.”
Smith’s frustrating season might be over after a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve this week. The former second-round pick, who’s not eligible to return until the season finale at the Jets, began the season on injured reserve with a hamstring issue, came back to play six games, permitted 16 catches in 19 targets for 174 yards and a TD in those games (per PFF), and then appeared to dislocate his shoulder against Green Bay.
What does he need to do to have a successful NFL career?
“The big thing I want to work on with him is continued confidence in his technique and attacking the football downfield,” Araujo said. “Not just covering the guy, but [get to] the point where you will take the football back. [Better] play strength will help that. He was working on getting stronger when he was on IR.
“His technique improved drastically. We are excited about him. He needs continued reps. As his play strength increases, you will see more balance in his game and ability to attack the [ball] more often.”
As for Bonner, former coordinator Vic Fangio not only had him ahead of Smith, but trusted Bonner enough to use him 11 snaps in the playoff loss at Kansas City.
But these Dolphins coaches have placed Duck and Smith ahead of Bonner, who has played just four defensive snaps all season.
Araujo — who was on last year’s staff as an assistant defensive backs coach before being promoted to replace Sam Madison this year — was asked what Fangio liked about Bonner that hasn’t necessarily manifested itself with this staff.
“They’re different systems, but it’s not a system thing,” Araujo responded. “It’s different people in the room. It shakes out different ways. There’s nothing against what he’s doing.
“I don’t think there’s anything that hasn’t been built on this year [with Bonner]. He and Storm came in, in similar situations [as undrafted players]. It started out with him and Storm at the end of camp battling for a spot. [Bonner] was reliable and got opportunities [last year] and there ended up being a competition [this year] and that’s how it shook out.”
▪ Right tackle Kendall Lamm said he has “no doubt” he will continue to play in games while dealing with a painful sprained elbow. He said he was injured when engaged in a block against the Packers.
Among offensive players, only left tackle Terron Armstead did not practice Thursday. He continues to play through a knee issue with limited practice time.
Four players on offense were limited: Lamm, receiver Tyreek Hill (wrist/rest), running back Raheem Mostert (hip) and guard Isaiah Wynn (quad/knee).
▪ Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. returned to practice for the first time since injuring his hamstring Nov. 24 against New England.
“I thought it was a lot worse [initially],” he said Thursday.
He looked distraught on the field after straining the hamstring not only because of that fear, but also because he was “frustrated” with injuries in recent years. “Always dealing with something,” he said.
Among defensive players, everyone practiced but five were limited: Walker, outside linebackers Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee), defensive tackle Benito Jones (shoulder/back) and Kohou (back).
▪ The Jets have a couple of significant injury questions heading into Sunday. Cornerback Sauce Gardner, a first-team All-Pro the past two seasons, missed practice Wednesday and Thursday because of a hamstring injury.
Running back Breece Hall hasn’t practiced this week because of a knee injury; he averages 4.2 yards per carry but is tied for the NFL lead among running backs with six fumbles.
Starting guard Alijah Vera-Tucker missed practice because of an ankle injury.
▪ The hope here is that running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who has just eight carries (for 40 yards) this season, gets a chance in short-yardage situations. Asked if he watches the Dolphins’ struggles in short yardage and thinks about whether he could be converting those, he said, “most definitely. I know I can play.”
But he said he would never ask coach Mike McDaniel to use him in those, or any, circumstances. “I’m not the type who would talk about those things,” Wilson said. “Mike knows me.”
Even though he was active against Green Bay, he played only one offensive snap (where he blocked) and didn’t expect to get any carries.
“I know I’m a third-down, protection back” with this team if needed. “I’ll be ready for anything. I want to show I still got it.”
▪ For the second year in a row and third time in his career, Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold has been nominated for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, which recognizes players who “excel on-the-field and demonstrate a steadfast commitment to creating a positive impact beyond the game.”
Per the Dolphins, Ingold “through his own adoption journey,... has found purpose and intention, focusing much of his work in the advocacy and financial support of children in the child welfare system. After founding the Ingold Family Foundation in 2022, he has established and sustained programming to help youth achieve their dreams, providing education, inspiration, support and access to opportunity.
“Ingold authored and published his first book, “The 7 Crucibles” in 2023 and has since developed a curriculum and training modules based on the book’s lessons in personal adversity. In 2024, Ingold implemented this curriculum in Broward County Public Schools, the second-largest school district in Florida. More than 20 of the athletic programs from those schools have been onboarded, impacting up to 17,000 student-athletes.
“Through his foundation, Ingold hosts annual programming from football camps to his designed Money Mini Camps dedicated to the advancement of financial literacy and professional development for underprivileged high schools.
“He has also continued his work with SOS Children’s Villages Florida, a residential foster care community in South Florida. This year, Ingold initiated a season-long Gifts In Gold fundraising campaign to provide a brand-new playground for the neighborhood, which will come to completion before the holidays. Ingold also donated 45 brand-new pairs of shoes to ensure the kids started off the school year in style. He makes regular visits to the community and supports them through his foundation.”
All of the honorees will be recognized in the week leading up to the Super Bowl.
Ingold, who is adopted, said he sees “myself in those kids. It brings purpose to my life. Being an advocate for those looking to be adopted brings joy to my life.”
General manager Chris Grier said Ingold’s “commitment and dedication to all he does sets him apart, and his passion for making an impact on kids, especially those who can find inspiration in his own story, is truly remarkable.”
The Dolphins have had three Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winners — Dwight Stephenson in 1985, Dan Marino in 1998 and Jason Taylor in 2007.
Here’s my Thursday pack of Dolphins personnel notes and Dolphins coaches offering different perspectives on whether the team plays soft.
