Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Ford’s return could bring boost to receiving corp
The Miami Dolphins traded Isaiah Ford to the New England Patriots in October to create more playing time for their stable of young receivers.
Even though Ford was regarded as one of the Dolphins’ smartest receivers, which helped him excel in the team’s offense during the past two seasons, Miami needed to find a way to create more opportunities for rookies Lynn Bowden Jr. and Malcolm Perry, and needed a roster spot for Antonio Callaway, whose NFL suspension had concluded, so the Dolphins traded Ford to their division rival for a 2022 conditional sixth-round pick.
When the Patriots waived Ford earlier this month with the hopes of re-signing him to their practice squad, the former Virginia Tech standout used it as an opportunity to return to South Florida, where his career started as a 2017 seventh-round pick.
“Obviously he’s got some familiarity and we’ll see how it goes this week,” Dolphins coach Brian Flores said of Ford, who will earn $12,400 a week as a vested member of Miami’s practice squad. “I have a lot of respect for him and I’m excited to have him back.”
According to Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the Dolphins will still receive the 2020 sixth-round pick despite Ford’s release.
Ford had to sit out last week’s practices because he needed to pass five COVID-19 tests before entering the facility, which is standard this season. His signing to the practice squad became official on Monday, accompanied by the release of tailback Elijah McGuire and receiver Andre Patton, and his presence can certainly help Miami’s injury-decimated receiver unit.
The Dolphins might be forced to play Sunday’s home finale against the Patriots (6-7) without DeVante Parker and Jakeem Grant, who both suffered leg injuries in last Sunday’s 33-27 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, and weren’t able to play in the second half.
Parker and Grant practiced on Wednesday despite their hamstring injuries.
While Ford is on Miami’s practice squad, the Dolphins can call him up to the game-day roster at the end of the week because of the NFL’s COVID-19 rules, which allow two practice squad promotions for each game. The new rules also allow for teams to call up more practice squad players for games if additional players are on the COVID-19 list.
The Dolphins have two players — tailback Myles Gaskin and cornerback Jamal Perry — on the COVID-19 reserve list, which means they have two spots for practice squad call ups.
Last week Bowden and Mack Hollins were forced to be rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s primary receivers because of Parker and Grant’s injuries, and the loss of tight end Mike Gesicki, who suffered a serious shoulder injury against the Chiefs.
Bowden and Hollins were each targeted nine times, as the Dolphins had to lean on them — as well as Perry and Callaway — during the team’s fourth-quarter rally.
Ford’s return could help ease the burden placed on the young receivers, and special teams standouts like Hollins, because he knows all three receiver spots and has extensive experience from the past three seasons.
“Working with ‘Zay’ (Isaiah Ford) is good because of the respect that I have for him. He always works incredibly hard when he’s here,” receivers coach Josh Grizzard said Tuesday when discussing Ford’s return. “It’s good to have him back around.”
Ford caught 18 passes for 184 yards in seven games for the Dolphins this season. He never played in a game for New England before being released.
The Dolphins also have rookie receivers Matt Cole and Kirk Merritt on the practice squad.
Cole could possibly help Miami in the return game, which is where he excelled at Division III McKendree University, finishing his career second in the Bearcats’ record book with 1,400 kick return yards and three combined return scores. The Dolphins had Callaway handle the team’s returns in the second half of the Chiefs game. Perry, Bowden and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene also have experience as return specialists.