Troubled WR Callaway relishing likely last chance
The Dolphins gave Antonio Callaway a second chance.
He is treating it as though it is his last chance.
Callaway, the dynamicbut-troubled wide receiver who missed the first half of the 2020 season due to a drug-related suspension, spoke with reporters recently for the first time as a member of the Dolphins.
He has failed an untold number of drug tests throughout his college and professional career, and surely knows he’s down to his final strike.
The Dolphins, of course, want him to succeed. So they have given him as much structure as possible to keep him on the right path.
“Just take it day by day. They basically told me a day at a time and stick with it,” Callaway said. “They gave me structure, I know that. That’s been making my journey easier.”
He added: “I meet with my coaches a lot after practice, before practice. Right now, I’m on a schedule. I have something to do all during the day, so there’s really no free time. When I have free time, I still find things to do.”
The ability is there. It just needs to be channeled. Callaway caught 43 passes for 586 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie in 2018.
He has caught just nine passes in six NFL games since then, including one pass in each of his first two games for the Dolphins: one for 13 yards against Denver, one for seven yards against the Jets.
Thanks to a renewed sense of purpose, plus an increased sense of urgency due to an injury sustained during a very short stint in the XFL earlier this year, Callaway has transformed his body.
“I’m actually in way better shape than when I first came in,” he said.
“Because when I first came in, I didn’t really train as hard as I did for me to come back this time.”
Callaway added: “It was a journey. It was a tough one, but you know, my agent [ Malki Kawa] stayed in my corner, my agent stayed on me. I worked hard every day until somebody gave me the opportunity. I’m excited to be with the ... Miami Dolphins.”
If Callaway proves himself reliable, he could be an early Christmas gift for rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Callaway has the speed to separate that’s missing from many of Tagovailoa’s receivers.
“He’s young like me,” Callaway said. “He’s got a lot to learn. With this coaching staff, we could do a lot of great things.”
As for what, if he could, Callaway would tell his younger self?
“Why? I’d say why I made the choices I made? You live and you learn. Lessons learned.”
So far, his playing time has been fairly limited, even with Malcolm Perry leaving the Jets game early with an injury. Callaway played 13 snaps against the Jets, with DeVante Parker, Mack Hollins, Jakeem Grant and Lynn Bowden Jr. all playing more.
Callaway would be an option to play in the slot, but he has only six career receptions out of the slot.
INJURY UPDATE
Tagovailoa remained ● limited in practice with a thumb injury for a second consecutive day on Thursday and coach Brian Flores was noncommittal about whether he would play Sunday against Cincinnati.
Ryan Fitzpatrick would start if the Dolphins believe that Tagovailoa wouldn’t be effective because of the injury on his throwing hand, which sidelined him for last Sunday’s Jets game.
Flores was asked if he would again prefer a full healthy Fitzpatrick over a somewhat limited Tagovailoa.
“A lot goes into that decision,” Flores said. “What’s best for the player, what’s best for the team, what we need to be able to do to win a ballgame. That’s the top of the priority list. But every player in this league who’s played a significant amount of snaps is dealing with something.
“You try to work through it and that’s what Tua is doing. I know you guys want to know right now if he’s playing or not playing but we’ve still got two days of practice.”
Flores said the Dolphins have enough at running back even with Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) and DeAndre Washington (hamstring) injured and Myles Gaskin working his way back from a sprained MCL.
Ahmed remained limited in practice on Thursday. Gaskin was at practice but remains on injured reserve. Washington missed a second consecutive day of practice. Matt Breida and Patrick Laird are the only healthy running backs on the roster.
Meanwhile, receiver Perry, who didn’t practice on Wednesday due to a chest injury, was able to practice on a limited basis Thursday. Guard Solomon Kindley remained limited with a foot injury.