Wideouts must catch on quickly

Uncertain status of Parker, Wilson puts greater burden on recently signed receivers

DAVIE — The Miami Dolphins will spend this week uncertain about the playing status of DeVante Parker and Albert Wilson, two receivers who are both in the NFL’s concussion protocol.

Their availability will depend on how long it takes them to exit the NFL’s three-stage concussion program, which is designed to prevent players from rushing back onto the field after suffering a head injury.

In the meantime, Miami’s coaches will put a ton of the team’s energy into getting two receivers who were added last week ready to play significant roles in Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants (2-11).

Mack Hollins and Trevor Davis, who were both claimed off the waiver wire, have already been undergoing a crash course on Miami’s offense. Now the volume will be turned up.

Hollins, the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2017 fourth-round pick, played 10 snaps on offense against the New York Jets last Sunday but didn’t catch a pass.

“I think any player will tell you that an opportunity is a gift,” said Hollins, a flanker who started three games for the Eagles earlier this season. “You don’t get

them all the time.

“I’ve definitely learned that over my three years in the NFL. Them giving me the opportunity is all I can ask for and it’s time to take advantage.”

Davis, a former California standout the Green Bay Packers selected in the fifth round of the 2016 draft, joined his third team this season. The Oakland Raiders claimed him after Green Bay released him earlier this year. He started four games for the Raiders before being released last week.

“I’m kind of used to different offenses — some things are similar, some things are different,” Davis said. “But at the end of the day, the offense is offense. You need to learn the concepts by themselves as well as the formations, so it shouldn’t be too bad.”

Dolphins offensive coordinator Chad O’Shea said Tuesday the key to speeding up the new receivers’ understanding of Miami’s offense is for the coaches to not give them more than they can handle.

However, these Dolphins coaches have a history of inserting players traded for, claimed, signed or promoted up from the practice squad into the starting lineup a week after they’ve joined the team. That’s happened in more than a halfdozen instances this year.

“It’s our responsibility as coaches to make sure that that we give them the right amount of volume in a game that they can handle,” O’Shea said. “With the players we have on our roster right now, I’m confident because of their work ethic and their preparation right now.”

But the bulk of the passing game will likely be placed on Allen Hurns, Isaiah Ford and tight end Mike Gesicki’s shoulders.

Hurns handled 57 snaps in Miami’s 22-21 loss to the Jets, and Ford handled 55.

Ford, who was called up from the practice squad two weeks ago, turned those 55 snaps into a career-high six receptions for 92 yards, and was showered with praise by quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick for helping everyone settle in and informing them of their assignments.

O’Shea backed up Fitzpatrick’s praise of Ford, pointing out that the former Virginia Tech standout is “a conceptual learner,” which means he’s someone who doesn’t just learn his role in play, he learns everyone else’s responsibility.

“He’s stayed ready at all positions. … He can line up anywhere, and that happened in the game,” O’Shea said. “He did a good job of getting some other guys lined up and helping [Fitzpatrick] in the game. He’s kind of our second quarterback

on the field.”

Parker and Wilson could sit out the entire week of practice and play this Sunday’s game, but that will be determined by an independent examiner. The first step of the concussion protocol requires a player’s headaches and light sensitivity to subside before he returns to practice. Then they must not return once he starts practicing again.

There have been a handful of instances in which a Dolphins player hadn’t practiced all week because he was in the concussion protocol, then played on Sunday. But that hasn’t happened under this coaching staff.