Depth at tight end a big plus
MIAMI GARDENS — If the Miami Dolphins won’t have tight end Adam Shaheen, who is on the reserve/COVID19 list along with left tackle Austin Jackson, on Sunday against the New England Patriots, they feel comfortable with the depth they have at tight end.
Miami still has its top player at the position in Mike Gesicki, who caught 53 passes for 703 yards and six touchdowns in 2020, along with Durham Smythe, free-agent acquisition Cethan Carter and rookie third-round pick Hunter Long.
“From a sheer numbers standpoint, we obviously are lucky this year because we have a larger number than we’ve had in the past,” said Smythe, who was second among Dolphins 2020 tight ends with 26 receptions for 208 yards. “I think this room is the deepest I’ve ever been a part of, so it would take something serious to get our room hurting. Four of us would have to go down.”
Added Carter, who was Miami’s first free-agent signing in the offseason, “It’s the next-man-up mentality. We’ll get Adam back here soon. Just work, excited to go out there and play Sunday.”
Shaheen had 22 receptions for 150 yards and three touchdowns last year in his first season with the Dolphins, but a strong training camp had him elevated above Smythe and second on the depth chart ahead of this season.
Carter was a special teams contributor over his three seasons in Cincinnati. He saw his most action at tight end in 2020, catching five passes for 53 yards.
“Just come in here and work — that was my thought process,” he said about joining an already-deep tight end unit in Miami. “Earn whatever role I got, do my best at it.”
Carter said he feels healthy again after his apparent knee injury in the preseason opener at the Chicago Bears.
“It could’ve been any injury,” Carter said. “It’s just the mental part of it mainly. Once you get out there and get playing, it’s in the back of your head: Just ball.”
Carter is a New Orleans native. He said his family in the area evacuated during Hurricane Ida to stay with him in South Florida before recently returning as power was restored.
After the 2020 Dolphins set a franchise record for production by a tight end unit, their position coach, George Godsey, was promoted to co-offensive coordinator.
“He’s been great for us personally, the tight ends, the last three years because he teaches from an entire playbook-based approach,” Smythe said. “He’s not just coming into the tight end room and teaching us what we need to do. It’s ‘This is what the quarterback’s reading. This is what the receiver’s doing. The running back’s scanning — whatever — this way to that way.’ I think that’s helped us a lot.”
Long’s first NFL regular-season game will be up near where he played his college ball. He attended Boston College.
Injury report
There were no changes to the Dolphins’ Thursday injury report as offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg (thigh) and wide receiver Preston Williams (foot) remained limited participants after also being limited on Wednesday.
Wide receivers DeVante Parker (shoulder) and Albert Wilson (quadricep), linebacker Elandon Roberts (knee), running back Salvon Ahmed (back) and safety Clayton Fejedelem (shoulder) participated fully for a second consecutive day.
For the Patriots, wide receiver Nelson Agholor (ankle) and safety Jalen Mills (ankle) were both held out on Thursday after being limited participants in Wednesday drills. Linebacker Ronnie Perkins (shoulder) popped up on the injury report as a limited participant, and tackle Yodny Cajuste (hamstring) was limited for a second straight day. …
Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins, a Massachusetts native, acknowledged Thursday that he grew up a Patriots fan.
“Growing up, die-hard, yeah, big time, but happen to be a Dolphin now,” Wilkins said.