Players unfazed by schedule changes
The Miami Dolphins ended their weekend, after a victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, with a look ahead to their next opponent— a team they were not expecting to face yet just a few hours earlier.
And the players say it won’t change a lot about their approach to theweek.
Right before the Dolphins kicked off their dominant 43-17 victory, the NFL made a slew of schedule changes Sunday afternoon due to COVID-19 outbreaks with the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots over the past twoweeks.
The 2-3 Dolphins, who were originally supposed to visit the Denver Broncos during Week 6, will host their former coach Adam Gase and the winless New York Jets this coming Sunday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Tight end Mike Gesicki, who finished with five receptions for 91 yards against the 49ers, said during a Monday afternoon video conference call that the schedule switch won’t change how the players will prepare thisweek.
“We didn’t get into it yet,” he said about the team’s preparation for the Jets. “I’m sure the coaches did, so it kind of sucks forthem. We were just locked and loaded on the 49ers. You hear a couple of hours before kickoff we’re playing the Jets, not the Broncos. It is what it is, it’s no big deal.
“We’re here. You can’t go anywhere. It’s not a normal bye week. It doesn’t matter if they change next week’s opponent or move our bye week again, we’re here for the long haul.”
Cornerback Xavien Howard reiterated Gesicki, saying: “It doesn’ t matter which team is next. We just have to focus on the game plan.”
Other changes to the Dolphins’ schedule have their bye week taking place during Week 7 after originally being scheduled for Week 11. Their home game against
the Los Angeles Chargers movedfromWeek7 toWeek 10, and the Dolphins-Broncosgame will now be played duringWeek 11.
Before the schedule changes Sunday afternoon, six gameshadalready been moved through the league’s first five weeks of the season.
Despite the bumps in the road, Ge sick i’ s confidence in the league’s protocols hasn’t waned.
“The NFL is doing anything and everything it can to keep the players safe and make sure the games can be played,” Gesicki said. “There were protocols set when the season started, and we’re abiding by those.”
NewO-Line look
Dolphins coach Brian Flores said he was content with the offensive line play against the 49ers and thought rookieRobertHunt did well in his first start as the team’s right tackle.
Hunt, who Miami selected with the No. 39 pick in the 2020 NFL draft, played every offensive snap Sunday after making brief appearances in the first four games of the season.
“[Hunt] showed himself well,” Flores said. “The moment wasn’t too big for him.”
Jesse Davis moved to left tackle after starting left tackle Austin Jackson joined the team’s injured reserve list due to a foot injury he sustained against the Seattle Sea hawks the previous week.
Flores said Jacksonwon’t practice for “at least a couple weeks.”
“He’s working hard and
doing everything he can to get out there as quickly as possible,” Flores added. “If it takes longer, it takes longer.”
Flores said he didn’t
consider putting Tua Tagovailoa— whoDolphins selected with the fifth pick in this year’s draft — in Sunday’sblowout, sayinghe
doesn’ t“know what we’ d get out of that” sinceTagovailoa would have simply handed the ball off.
The former Alabama
standout hasn’t played a snap this season.
“I guess thatwould make people happy — I just don’t see any point in that,” he added. “He’s the backup. Tuacangoin atanymoment of the game. He’ll be ready to go when his number’s called.”