South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Parker working his way back
MIAMI GARDENS — DeVante Parker seems to be progressively working his way back from the undisclosed injury that had the Miami Dolphins’ leading receiver the past two years begin training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list.
Parker got more involved in practice as this past week progressed, and caught a series of passes from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during Saturday’s 11-on-11 portions of practice.
He also caught a touchdown pass during 7-on-7s when he dropped into the back of the end zone and Tagovailoa found him for the score.
Dolphins seemed focused on having Parker, and newcomer Will Fuller, who has missed all but one training camp practice because of a soft tissue issue he’s rehabbing, healthy for the start of the regular season.
Despite all the additions Miami made to the receiving corp, Parker, who has caught 298 passes for 4,212 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in the 56 games he’s played for the Dolphins the past six seasons, is viewed as the front-runner to remain the starting split end for the Dolphins.
Camp observations
Cornerback Xavien Howard participated in his first 11-on-11 period of training camp on Saturday.
It was only handful of snaps, in a run-game centric period of practice, but it’s a start for the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback who has participated in three practices, and one walk-through during the first two weeks of camp.
Coach Brian Flores has said that Howard is nursing an ankle injury, and the Dolphins are uncertain if he’ll participate in next week’s joint practices with the Chicago Bears ahead of the preseason game next Saturday.
Howard’s slow start to training camp likely has a lot to do with him expressing disappointment that his contract hasn’t been re-worked. He’s gone as far as requested a trade, which Flores insists isn’t on the horizon for the franchise . ...
Matt Skura and Solomon Kindley, two offensive linemen who spent most the past week working with the third-team line, were back with the second-team units on Saturday. Kindley, who is a contender to start at left guard, had a few decent plays opening up running lanes for Miami’s tailbacks. Skura seems to be rotating with Cameron Tom to determine who will backup Michael Deiter, who has spent every training camp practice as the starting center . ...
Sam Eguavoen had a series of impactful snaps during Saturday’s session. The former starting inside linebacker picked off a Reid Sinnett pass that was batted in the air during 11-on-11s. On the next play, his pressure forced Sinnett out the pocket, and would have possibly produced a sack if the action were live.
Tailback Patrick Laird had a nice 20-yard run during the early 11-on-11 period, where the Dolphins were working on the running game. ...
Jason McCourty spent his second practice as the starting boundary cornerback opposite Byron Jones while Jevon
Holland, the Dolphins’ 2021 second-round pick, handled the bulk of the starter reps at free safety.
Stock up
Mack Hollins has quietly had a strong camp, spending most of the second week as a first-team receiver. Saturday’s big catch personified the type of physical presence he brings to the Dolphins offense. Hollins and Jones both went up for an underthrown deep ball from Tagovailoa and it was Hollins who brought it down, and then ran the extra 30 yards for a touchdown.
Stock down
Jones has had a fairly uneven camp, producing a lackluster performance like the one he had during last year’s camp. While it’s unfair to pin Miami’s struggles in the secondary during training camp on Jones, especially with Howard sitting out most of camp’s first two weeks, the Dolphins aren’t getting the type of daily production one should expect from the roster’s highest-paid player, who will earn $14 million this season.
Injury update
Receiver Jaylen Waddle, who was wearing a compression sleeve on his right calf, was visibly limping during the majority of practice. However, the Dolphins’ first-round pick was never pulled during the session . ...
Safety Brandon Jones (ankle) and offensive tackle Adam Pankey (hand) and tailback Jordan Scarlett (unknown) all suffered injuries during Saturday’s practice and didn’t finish the session . ...
Tailback Malcolm Brown and linebackers Kylan Johnson, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jaelan Phillips all attended practice, but were held out of the session because of their various injuries . ...
Tailback Salvon Ahmed was not in a red (non-contact) jersey, which indicates that he’s gotten past the injury he suffered this past week.