The Miami Dolphins’ locker room at their follow facility was open to media for the primary time since earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic on Wednesday, and quite a lot of empty lockers have been scattered round.
There can be a row of consecutive occupied stations adopted by one vacant after which perhaps a stretch of unoccupied lockers that have been lacking a nameplate above.
That’s an NFL locker room the day after preliminary cuts for the 53-man lively roster — rather more spacious on Wednesday than how crowded it was the 5 weeks prior throughout coaching camp. The roster was as much as 80 on Saturday throughout the preseason win over the Philadelphia Eagles and 90 two weeks earlier. Miami additionally nonetheless has a 16-player follow squad to welcome, a lot of these which have been working with the group all camp.
For those nonetheless there following Wednesday’s follow, there’s a variety of feelings: Some excited to earn their spot when the percentages have been stacked towards them; others relieved after a job they beforehand had a stranglehold on was probably in jeopardy.
For undrafted rookie cornerback Kader Kohou, he wasn’t positive till he formally made the group.
“It’s the NFL. I knew I made the 53 when it came out,” he stated. “I was like, ‘It can go either way.’ But I just know I can play, though, so I knew, if I didn’t get a shot here, I’d get a shot somewhere else. I’m glad I’m here, though.”
Kohou, one in every of two undrafted rookies to make the ultimate lower, together with tight finish Tanner Conner, confirmed he can carry out on the massive stage this camp and preseason, making it by way of an injury-depleted unit that has Byron Jones on the physically-unable-to-perform checklist and Trill Williams and Mackensie Alexander on injured reserve.
“Just being able to compete,” stated Kohou, a Texas A&M-Commerce alum. “Coming from D-II, it’s easy to say whatever you did at D-II will be hard for you to do in the NFL. It’s the best level. But just showing that I could play with them.”
Rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, a seventh-round draft choose, made it as a 3rd quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa and Teddy Bridgewater.
“I never really have gotten caught up in being a late-round pick and what people say,” Thompson stated. “All that stuff is really irrelevant to me because I know what I’m capable of doing. I believe in myself, and I’m a confident person. I just knew, if I came in here, took care of my business, something good would come of it.”
Defensive again Elijah Campbell stated he by no means felt like his pick-six in Saturday’s exhibition win over the Eagles was a roster-clincher for him. He’s seen it go the opposite method for gamers who standout within the preseason finale.
“Being a bubble player, you never know if you’re going to get the call or not,” stated Campbell, who contributed strictly on particular groups with the Dolphins in 2021. “I was confident in what I did during the preseason.”
Campbell stated coaches favored his pace on particular groups and flexibility within the secondary. He’s capable of play security and cornerback. After competing largely at cornerback final 12 months and security throughout camp, Campbell stated he’s at nook this week with depth low on the place.
Running backs Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed have been key contributors every of the previous two seasons, however in a brand new offense and beneath a brand new teaching employees that introduced in three tailbacks in free company, their spots have been at risk. Ultimately, each made it, together with offseason additions Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert, whereas Sony Michel was the odd man out.
“It was a stacked room,” Gaskin stated. “Every day, you just come in to work. That’s the name of the game, and that’s how I came up, just as a kid.”
“Motivation, obviously,” he continued about what he felt when he noticed Miami usher in as many new working backs because it did, “but at the same time, I was able to pick up a few things from these guys. I’m learning from Chase, me and him being the same type of backs, smaller type.”
Gaskin stated he has been utilizing flash playing cards and taking notes the previous a number of months to study new coach Mike McDaniel’s offense rapidly. He described his confidence amid the modifications: “As high as it’s ever been.”
Tackle Greg Little made the lower as a reserve lineman after lacking time within the preseason however coming again for a powerful efficiency in Saturday’s exhibition finale.
“The biggest thing was being mentally engaged and getting mental reps,” Little stated. “You can still learn from not being out there, so try to be as engaged as possible. Talk to all the guys, see what they’re thinking still, so when I did get out there, just back into action.”
Waiver claims
The Dolphins didn’t make any waiver claims on Wednesday, that means they’re sticking with the gamers on their preliminary 53-man roster for now.
Michel, the South Florida product who was lower by the Dolphins on Monday after an underwhelming coaching camp, was signed by the Los Angeles Chargers. Defensive deal with Benito Jones, who had a powerful camp and preseason for Miami however didn’t make the lively roster both, was claimed by the Detroit Lions.
Practice report
Dolphins vast receiver Jaylen Waddle and cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Keion Crossen have been seen throughout the early media viewing portion of Wednesday’s follow after lacking Tuesday’s session. It’s unclear how a lot exercise Waddle went by way of on Wednesday. …
Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, cornerback Nik Needham and safeties Eric Rowe and Clayton Fejedelem weren’t seen at follow.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com