Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
WR Louis re-signed to bolster depth
The Miami Dolphins went to a familiar well to address the team’s lack of depth on the receiver unit, re-signing Ricardo Louis on Saturday two weeks after releasing the five-year veteran.
Louis, a former Miami Beach High and Auburn standout who spent all of last season on injured reserve because of a knee injury he suffered last spring, could help ease the absence of Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns, two veterans who opted out of playing the 2020 season because of concerns related to the coronavirus.
Wilson and Hurns’ decision to sit out 2020 left the Dolphins with eight receivers on the training camp roster, and two of them were undrafted rookies. Louis’ return gives Miami nine receivers, and seven veterans who have started NFL games. However, the Dolphins typically carry 10 receivers on their training camp roster, so don’t be surprised if Miami signs or claims another receiver soon to address the team’s lack of experience on the unit.
Louis, a 2016 fourthround pick, played in all 32 games — and started 17 of them — his first two seasons, which were spent with the Cleveland Browns. He contributed 45 receptions for 562 yards before missing the 2018 season with an injury. He missed all of last season rehabbing a surgically repaired knee, and spent the offseason working with the Dolphins virtually and was rehabbing in the facility in July.
The Dolphins also placed defensive tackle Ray Smith, who the team claimed off waivers on July 29, on reserve/retired list. Smith spent some time on the Detroit Lions and San Francisco 49ers practice squad before Miami claimed him.
Four off COVID-19 list
The Dolphins activated rookie offensive lineman Solomon Kindley, rookie receiver Kirk Merritt, and rookie defensive linemen Raekwon Davis and Benito Jones off the reserve
COVID-19 reserve list, which they were placed on this past week.
The four could have come into contact with a player or employee who tested positive for COVID-19, or had a family or friend test positive. Their return to the active training camp roster, which allows them to practice, lift weights and attend meetings with their teammates, means they tested negative three times.
The Dolphins activated three players — defensive tackle Davon Godchaux, new defensive lineman Shaq Lawson and rookie safety Brandon Jones — off the COVID-19 reserve list on Friday, and the removal of these four rookies means only offensive guard Ereck Flowers remains on the list.
Flowers was placed on Miami’s COVID-19 reserve list last Sunday.
The NFLPA has said that 56 players have tested positive for the coronavirus since training camp started in late July.
All players must pass the NFL’s protocol to work in the facility, and that requires three negative COVID-19 tests.
If a player tests positive but has no symptoms, he can return 10 days after the initial positive test, or after two consecutive negative tests within five days of the initial positive test.
If the player has a positive test and symptoms, he can return after at least 72 hours after symptoms have passed, or at least 10 days after symptoms first appear.
Players who have close contact with someone who has symptoms will be tested and isolated as soon as possible.
If the player has close contact with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test, he must have two negative tests before being allowed to return.
If a player has tested negative after coming into contact and continues to have no symptoms, he may return to the facility but will have increased symptom monitoring and more frequent testing.