Landry pushing for receiving title in 2017
DAVIE — Jarvis Landry sets lofty goals every season.
This year he wanted to set the Miami Dolphins’ franchise record for receiving yards, breaking the 1,389-yard threshold that Mark Clayton set in 1984.
That record isn’t within reach, considering Landry would need 545 yards over the next two games, but Landry is at the doorstep of another possible achievement.
Landry’s 98 receptions has the former LSU standout trailing Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown for the NFL’s leader in receptions this season. And considering Brown, who has caught 101 passes this season, is sidelined by a calf injury suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, it is possible that Landry could finish 2017 with the most catches in the regular season.
The only players close to Landry, who has produced 844 yards and scored eight touchdowns on those receptions, are Saints receiver Michael Thomas (94 receptions), Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins (92) and Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald (92). So with a strong finish in the final two games, Landry could earn the catches crown.
“Hopefully next year it’ll be a tighter race,” Landry said. “We’ll get a couple guys back. We’ll get Odell [Beckham] back in the race and a couple other guys. We’re all friends, we’re all brothers at the end of the day, and that’s what it’s about. It’s about competing, but also celebrating each other’s success.”
Landry already owns the Dolphins’ season catch record with 110 in 2015. He also holds the NFL record for most receptions by any player in the first four years of a career (386).
“I think if he’s in that position to where he ends up having the most catches in the NFL, that’s great. I mean it’s one of those things that’s great for the resume. But I’m sure he’d take two more wins and be second,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said. “We’ll see how these next two games play out and if he is, great. If he’s not, I’m sure he’s not going to lose too much sleep because he still caught a ton of balls.”
Branch, who has contributed 20 tackles and four sacks this season, sat out last Sunday’s game against the Bills, but the six-year veteran practiced all week. His participation during Friday’s session wasn’t limited.
Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh sat out Friday’s practice to rest his knee injury. Suh typically sits out one practice a week, but this week he’s missed two.