Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
RB Kenyan Drake suffers an apparent head injury and is helped off the field at practice.
Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake appears to have suffered a head injury during Monday morning’s practice.
Drake collided with rookie cornerback Torry McTyer during an 11-on-11 period of practice and laid on the field for several minutes before being helped off by a team trainer.
“It’s football. It happens,” head coach Adam Gase said. “That’s why they have pads on.”
It is possible that Drake suffered a concussion, and was likely being tested for it after practice. If Drake, the Dolphins’ 2016 third-round pick, suffered a concussion, he’d become the second tailback, and third Dolphins player to enter the NFL’s concussion protocol program.
Jay Ajayi, the Dolphins’ starting tailback, suffered a concussion during the scrimmage that concluded the first week of training camp, and is entering the final stages of the concussion protocol program.
Ajayi participated in his second practice without limitations on Monday, which indicates that he’s close to being cleared to play in a game if he doesn’t suffer a setback. Ajayi, who rushed for 1,272 yards and made the Pro Bowl last season, left Sunday’s practice early with what Gase termed a hydration issue.
Rookie receiver Malcolm Lewis, who suffered a concussion during the team’s Hard Rock Stadium scrimmage on Aug. 5, also participated in his second consecutive practice.
If Drake can’t participate in Thursday night’s preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium, the Dolphins might be forced to play the entire game with running backs Damien Williams, Storm Johnson, Senorise Perry and De’Veon Smith.
Drake, who finished with 179 yards and two touchdowns on 33 attempts in 2016, was Miami’s secondleading rusher last season. Williams was third, rushing for 115 yards and three touchdowns on 25 attempts.
Ajayi can’t play in a game until he’s cleared by an independent doctor, which hasn’t happened yet.
Pouncey to play
The Dolphins are altering Mike Pouncey’s “16-plus plan,” and will allow the team’s starting center to play in one preseason game.
Gase hasn’t decided if Pouncey’s handful of snaps occur Thursday against the Ravens or during next Thursday night’s road game against the Philadelphia Eagles. But Gase is backing off his initial stance that he didn’t need to see Pouncey in a preseason game, which gave birth to the “16-plus plan.”
“He wants to do it,” Gase said. “That’s the final step for him.”
Pouncey, who has been brought along slowly all offseason because of a hip injury that has plagued him since 2014, started participating in contact portions of practice for the first time Saturday, engaging in 11-on-11 drills every other day.
Pouncey typically handles two to three snaps with the first-team offense for the first two portions of 11 on 11. On Monday he participated in 1-on-1 drills for the first time all camp.
“Physically I feel great. I feel like we have a great plan, a great schedule that I’m going to stick through throughout this whole camp,” Pouncey said, referring to the “16-plus plan.”
Playing faster
Charles Harris was critical of himself following his first NFL game, where the former Missouri standout didn’t record a tackle or a sack in Miami’s 23-20 preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons.
The Dolphins’ firstround pick said Monday that he was “really hesitant,” while working as Miami’s second-team defensive end during last Thursday’s game.
“It was my first game, and I didn’t want to mess up,” said Harris, who did produce a few quarterback pressures. “Coach [ Terrell Williams] and coach [Andre Carter] told me I just need to go. My best attribute is my speed, so get off the ball and then react. Play instinctively and don’t think about things too much.”
Injury update
Cornerback Tony Lippett left Monday’s practice with an undisclosed injury. Lippett had been having issues with his feet recently. …
Ja’Wuan James’ practice participation was limited to individuals drills because of the shoulder injury he’s nursing. Sam Young continues to fill in for James as Miami’s starting right tackle, and he’ll likely start Thursday in James’ place . ... Tight end Julius Thomas and offensive guard
Kraig Urbik sat out practice to rest their backs. Safety Walt Aikens, who is also nursing a back injury, sat out his second consecutive practice . ... Nate Allen, who is Miami’s projected starting free safety, sat out his seventh practice in a row due to a groin injury . ... Receivers Leonte Carroo and Jordan Westerkamp are both slowed by hamstring injuries that have kept them from practicing this week . ... Linebacker Neville Hewitt continues to be sidelined by a groin injury.
The Dolphins will reportedly sign former Arizona receiver Trey Griffey, son of Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffrey Jr. ,to address the numerous injuries they’ve suffered the position . ...
The Dolphins announced Monday Tuesday’s practice will take place inside the practice bubble and be closed to the public.