Draft pick Van Ginkel finally ready
DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins welcomed a rookie draft pick back into the fold.
Now it will just be a matter of time before he makes his NFL debut.
On Wednesday, fifth-round pick Andrew Van Ginkel practiced with the Dolphins for the first time this season, making his return from a foot injury he suffered during the preseason.
“It’s been a long time coming and I’m excited to be back out there,” said Van Ginkel, who was drafted out of Wisconsin last April and could join the active roster in two weeks.
Coach Brian Flores said his goal is to have Van Ginkel, an outside linebacker who could provide help to the Dolphins’ pass rush, be the second of two players allowed to return from injured reserve this season.
“We’ll see him practice and we’ll have some time to work him in there,” Flores said. “We’re looking forward to being able to see what he can bring to the team.”
Van Ginkel is the only player from Miami’s 2019 draft haul to not play this season.
First-round defensive tackle Christian Wilkins has started eight of nine games this season, while third-round left guard Michael Dieter has started in all nine.
Fullback Chandler Cox has appeared in eight games with two starts, while
running back Myles Gaskin, who was drafted one spot after Cox in the seventh round, made his debut last week against the Colts in Indianapolis.
The Dolphins have already designated offensive tackle Julien Davenport, who started the season opener but suffered a hyperextended knee and small crack in his tibia during a practice the following week, to return from IR.
By designating Davenport and Van Ginkel, the Dolphins will effectively be without six other players who are currently on IR and any other player added to the list during the rest of the season.
That list includes five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Aqib Talib, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Rams in a salary-dump trade at the deadline. The Dolphins will continue to pay the $4.2 million Talib is owed for the rest of this season while he recovers from a rib injury that landed him on IR with the Rams.
Xavien Howard, who could have returned from IR for the season finale against the New England Patriots, was shut down for the season after his surgically repaired left knee flared up during Miami’s loss in Pittsburgh in Week 8.
Dolphins undrafted rookie Jonathan Ledbetter, who impressed during the preseason but suffered an ankle injury after the season opener, and offensive lineman Danny Isidora, who started the first three games before suffering a foot injury that required surgery, will also not play again this season.