Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
OT Tunsil limited in workouts by hamstring issue.
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil participated in Wednesday’s practice, but had his involvement in the team’s minicamp significantly limited.
Tunsil, who has been sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring strain, participated in the offensive line’s individual drills. But those were the only drills he did.
It’s doubtful that Tunsil, the Dolphins’ 2016 firstround pick, will participate in the 11-on-11 portions of today’s final minicamp session before Miami wraps up its offseason program.
Sam Young has replaced Tunsil as the Dolphins’ starting left tackle during the team’s practices, and a handful of long shots are competing to man the backup right tackle spot.
Center Mike Pouncey (hip), linebacker Koa Misi (neck), defensive tackle Nick Williams (undisclosed), and receiver Rashawn Scott (foot) also didn’t participate in practice.
Offense rebounds
Miami’s offense had the better performance in Day 2 of the Dolphins’ mandatory minicamp.
The quarterbacks weren’t under as much duress from Miami’s pass rush, and as a result the offense scored three touchdowns during team portions of practice. DeVante Parker beat cornerback Xavien Howard on a 40-yard pass from Ryan Tannehill. Tight
end Anthony Fasano scored on a play that took the defense by surprise, and receiver Jakeem
Grant caught a touchdown pass during red zone work.
Improvement from Grant
Grant has struggled with catching the football cleanly going back to his rookie season, and those issues continue to surface this offseason. But head coach Adam
Gase said the former Texas Tech standout is making progress.
Last year, the Dolphins worked Grant, the team’s primary returner, exclusively as a slot receiver on offense, and this spring he’s been used all over the field.
“We’re just trying to get him to play as fast as he can. He’s done a really good job of diving into the playbook, spending extra time because some of the little mistakes that you would see as a rookie, you don’t see as much anymore,” Gase said.
“He makes some really good plays. It just comes down to consistency and just consistently making those catches — not only the hard ones, but it’s those easy ones that can get you sometimes.”
Ross Initiative to be honored
ESPN announced on Wednesday that the Ross Initiative in Sports for Equality (RISE) will receive the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award at the third annual Sports Humanitarian Awards on July 11, and a $100,000 grant for leadership in improving race relations and driving social progress.
“We are honored that RISE is a recipient of the Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award, named after a man synonymous with bringing all walks of life together through the unifying power of sports,” Dolphins owner Steve Ross, RISE founder and board chairman, said in a statement.
In honor of former ESPN commentator Stuart Scott, the award celebrates those who have taken risks and used an innovative approach to helping the disadvantaged through sports.