Ezukanma could make debut; Howard ailing
Dolphins rookie receiver Erik Ezukanma might finally make his regularseason debut Sunday against Buffalo if Cedrick Wilson Jr.’s painful rib injury makes him unavailable.
The Dolphins’ depth of talent at wide receiver — and coach Mike McDaniel’s faith in former 49ers receivers Trent Sherfield and River Cracraft — aren’t the only reasons Ezukanma hasn’t been active the first two weeks.
Ezukanma said last Friday that he has been asked to learn a new position. After playing the Z receiver position in training camp and preseason, he said that in recent weeks, he also has been asked to learn the F receiver position.
“Cedrick is the starting F and he doesn’t have a main backup,” Ezukanma said. “F is one of the hardest positions to learn. The F is the adjuster who moves inside or outside. I was playing [only] Z in preseason.”
Ezukanma said not playing — or even being active — has been “a bit frustrating. [Before the Patriots opener], I was really down on myself.”
But he also appreciates the coaching staff’s thinking, because it takes time to learn a new position.
“I understand it,” he said. “I have to prove I can learn the playbook. There’s a learning curve.”
Ezukanma said he continues to get work at the Z receiver position, too. He knows that understanding how to play both Z and F will increase his versatility and value to the team.
McDaniel said he told Ezukanma last Monday that while he was inactive, he should “take in the environment ... and be extra detailed on your game plan. He gives the rest of his team confidence he can own game plans week in and week out, from multiple positions, he won’t have that problem anymore, which he understood.”
Wilson’s status for Sunday
is very much in question; McDaniel said Wilson’s ribs hurt “pretty bad” but aren’t broken.
In addition to the heavy workload for elite receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, McDaniel has given offensive snaps to Wilson, Sherfield and Cracraft, who caught his first NFL touchdown Sunday, the first of Tua Tagovailoa’s four fourthquarter TD passes.
The Dolphins soon will face a decision whether to promote Cracraft from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.
NFL teams can “elevate” practice squad players three times during a season — up from two a year ago — and Cracraft, who has value as a receiver and on special teams, already has been elevated twice.
Ezukanma was 12th in the NFL in preseason receiving yards with 156, on 10 receptions.
Receivers coach Wes Welker gave a glowing recommendation to general manager Chris Grier after watching Ezukanma work out privately for the Dolphins in Lubbock, Texas, before the draft.
“I knew coming from the offense he was coming from, where there was a lot of signals, a lot of one-word plays, lining up in the same spot over and over again, there’s a big learning curve that goes on with that,” Welker said last month. “He has hit it in stride and has really attacked this offense and has understood how important it is. Because he’s got the physical ability. He’s got the talent and all those things.”
HOWARD INJURED
Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard missed practice on Wednesday because of a groin injury, leaving his status in question for Sunday’s game
against Buffalo. He missed a game last season with a groin injury.
McDaniel did not address Howard’s status before practice, and Howard is not permitted to speak to reporters if he doesn’t practice.
Left tackle Terron Armstead, who played through a toe injury on Sunday, missed practice with that toe injury on Wednesday.
Tight ends Hunter Long (ankle) and Cethan Carter (concussion protocol) remained out on Wednesday. Melvin Ingram Jr. was given Wednesday off as a veteran’s rest day.
Two Dolphins were limited on Wednesday: No. 3 wide receiver Wilson (ribs) and Channing Tindall (illness).
PAYTON'S ADMISSION
Former New Orleans Saints Super Bowl-winning coach Sean Payton, whom the Dolphins tried to hire in January, made an admission on Wednesday: He was wrong about Tagovailoa.
Payton, the Associated Press’ Coach of the Year in 2006, predicted last week that Tagovailoa would be benched and replaced by Teddy Bridgewater at some point this season.
After watching Tagovailoa throw for 469 yards and six touchdowns on Sunday in Baltimore, Payton told Fox Sports colleague Colin Cowherd: “I’ve been somewhat hard on Tua and wrong really because these first two games have been really impressive. Watching the game, [Waddle and Hill] reminded you of [Mark] Clayton and [Mark] Duper.
“Credit Mike McDaniel and those guys; it’s one of those teams that’s drinking the Kool-Aid and playing well. They had a good defense a year ago. Now they have a good defense and explosive offense, and Tua has been following the game plan. Certainly, I’ve been wrong and he’s been impressive.”
THIS AND THAT
Betonline has improved the Dolphins odds’ to win the Super Bowl from 40-to-1 (less than two weeks ago) to 25-to-1 after Sunday’s win. Only 10 teams have shorter odds. Miami is tied with Denver for 11th.
The teams with shorter odds: Buffalo, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Green Bay, the Chargers, Rams, San Francisco, Baltimore and Minnesota.
McDaniel and Jimmy Johnson are the only Dolphins coaches to start their careers here 2-0. Johnson did it in 1996.
The Dolphins’ 547 total yards Sunday were fifth most in franchise history. The team record: 584 in 1988 against the Jets.