Lineman grateful for opportunity

DAVIE Hroniss Grasu has had a rough start to his NFL career, but these days the former college AllAmerican finds himself counting his blessings.

A couple arrived on Wednesday when the Miami Dolphins signed the former 2015 third-round pick, whose once promising career had been derailed by a horrific knee injury. Then upon joining the team, the 27-year-old learned his locker would be next to his college buddy, linebacker Kiko Alonso, whom he played with at Oregon.

“This is a special guy right here,” Alonso said, introducing Grasu to his teammates and the media.

Dolphins coach Adam Gase is also familiar with Grasu, who has started 13 of the 17 games he’s played in the NFL since 2015. He started eight games for Gase’s offense in Chicago before tearing his ACL.

“I’m grateful and thankful to be here and happy to get this opportunity,” Grasu said. “I’ve been following the Dolphins since Gase got here and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Grasu replaces Jake Brendel on Miami’s 53-man roster.

Brendel re-aggravated the calf injury he’s battled all season last week and was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.

Grasu, who is 6 foot 3 and weighs 301 pounds, has the ability to play guard and center, which could benefit Miami in the final month of the season because of injuries Travis Swanson (ankle) and Ted Larsen (neck) are playing through.