Plenty of options to upgrade at WR
The Miami Dolphins need help at receiver because of the numerous injuries the unit has suffered in recent weeks, and plenty of options are available.
But what resources are the Dolphins willing to surrender to upgrade the injury-plagued unit?
The Dolphins will be without speedster Albert Wilson for an extended period because of a hip injury he suffered in Sunday’s 32-21 loss to the Detroit Lions. And a groin injury has Kenny Stills sidelined for Thursday night’s game against the Houston Texans.
A quadriceps injury has limited DeVante Parker to two games this season, Jakeem Grant has an Achilles injury and Danny Amendola is nursing a shoulder ailment.
When asked if the Dolphins have enough receivers to make it through Thursday night’s game coach Adam Gase joked Monday that he has five tailbacks who could catch passes.
“We’ll
Gase said.
At some point, Miami will need to explore getting reinforcements.
The in-house options are Leonte Carroo, the Dolphins’ 2016 thirdround pick, and Isaiah Ford, Miami’s 2017 seventh-round pick. Both players have been on the practice squad all season.
Carroo is the type of physical receiver the offense is missing, but he hasn’t established himself as a productive playmaker during games or practices the previous two seasons.
Carroo has started only two of the 28 games he’s played the previous two seasons, contributing 10 catches for 98 yards and one touchdown.
Ford, who primarily works as a slot receiver, spent last season on injured figure it out,” reserve knee injury.
Both Carroo and Ford already know the offense, but it’s doubtful they can provide the playmaking needed to compensate for the loss of Wilson.
Dez Bryant, Rishard Matthews and Terrelle Pryor are the best of the free-agent receivers available.
Bryant, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has held discussions with a number of teams, and said he intends to play this season.
Throughout his eightyear career, Bryant has started 99 games, catching 531 passes for 7,459 yards and has scored 73 touchdowns. He recently announced on social media that he’s battling depression and anxiety.
Matthews, who spent four seasons with the Dolphins and still calls South Florida home, requested and was granted his release from the Tennessee Titans earlier this season. because of
aIn 2015, Matthews’ performance during training camp earned him a starting role over Parker and he caught 43 passes for 662 yards and scored four touchdowns in 11 starts before suffering a seasonending rib injury.
Pryor was released by the New York Jets this past weekend, but he’s reportedly battling a groin injury that might sideline him for a few weeks.
Demaryius Thomas is a receiver that’s reportedly available via trade, and he has ties to Gase.
The five-time Pro Bowl receiver has caught 33 passes for 372 yards and three touchdowns in seven games this season. He’s earning $8.5 million this season.
Thomas would have an immediate understanding of Miami’s offense, considering his history with Gase, who served as his position coach and offensive coordinator in his first five seasons in Denver. Dolphins receiver Kenny Stills, who limped off the field after an incomplete pass Sunday, will not play Thursday.