Brendel fitting in at guard, center
Versatile lineman makes most of opportunities due to injuries
DAVIE — With the Miami Dolphins’ offensive line decimated by injuries, Jake Brendel is taking advantage of the ‘next-man-up’ mentality.
After spending the past two seasons with the Dolphins as a reserve lineman, the 26-year old has been thrust into the starting lineup — and succeeded — at multiple spots.
While the 6-foot-4, 299-pound lineman spent the first eight weeks of the season on injured reserve with a calf injury, he made his first career start against the Green Bay Packers at left guard after Ted Larsen suffered a neck injury.
“It was a great opportunity for me,” Brendel said of his Green Bay performance. “We obviously didn’t get the win, but I felt I performed pretty well for the circumstances. I have some things I have to work on still.”
Last week against the Indianapolis Colts, he started at left guard, but switched over to center after Travis Swanson suffered an ankle injury. Brendel played all 53 offensive snaps between the two spots in the team’s 27-24 loss.
“I’ve been with the Dolphins for three seasons now and I feel like it’s just any way I can help them, I’m going to help them,” Brendel said. “Opportunity wise — I’ve always been kind of the backup interior guy, so if they need me to start, I’m going to be able to do that.”
Brendel will likely make his third consecutive start — and first at center — this Sunday when the Dolphins (5-6) host the Buffalo Bills (4-7) at Hard Rock Stadium. While the UCLA alum didn’t start prior to this season, he was a key reserve last year, playing in all 16 games.
Even if he wasn’t on the field, the lineman took advantage of every opportunity he could last year.
“What’s really helped me was just watching the guys ahead of me last season,” Brendel said. “I watched [Mike] Pouncey and this season I watched Daniel [Kilgore] — [just] watching the older leaders on the offensive line.
“You try to emulate what they’re doing as much as you can because obviously what they do works. And as a backup guy, you just have to wait and see what happens, but you have to make sure you trust in the coaching staff and make sure you go to practice and even if you get in the game, show them you can compete.”