RB Ajayi returns to the field
Tailback participates in non-contact drills
Miami Dolphins tailback Jay Ajayi participated Tuesday in the non-contact portion of practice.
Ajayi, who suffered a concussion during a scrimmage the first week of training camp, had been shut down for an entire week because he’s in the NFL’s concussion protocol program.
The program has four stages, and Ajayi is apparently at stage three. That means he’s allowed to participate in the non-contact portion of practice. The fourth stage of the program allows him to be hit, but he can’t suffer any medical setbacks before he is cleared for that.
Coach Adam Gase said he hasn’t decided whether Ajayi will play in Thursday night’s exhibition game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium, but said he is leaning toward keeping Ajayi out.
“I would be hard pressed to do it,” Gase said. “I’ve got to wait for him to be officially cleared from the protocol. He’s still in it. This is kind of part of the process with that. So I’ll be smart. I haven’t met on this one yet because you don’t do it until the day before.”
Ajayi, who led the NFL in yards after contact (3.5 yards) last season, was the workhorse of the Dolphins’ running backs last year, rushing for 1,272 yards and earning his first Pro Bowl berth.
If Ajayi is out Thursday, expect Kenyan Drake, the Dolphins’ 2016 third-round pick, and Damien Williams to split the workload with the starters.
Drake has been handling snaps in the base offense package, and Williams continues to handle the thirddown back role.
Storm Johnson and Senorise Perry, two young tailbacks who spent most of last season on the practice squad, and rookie De’Veon Smith, a former University of Michigan standout, will handle the tailback work with the second and third team offense.
Lippett looks to make leap
Tony Lippett grabbed the water bottle off the golf cart, walked into the shade and thought about 2015.
“That was years ago,” Lippett said on Tuesday. “I actually feel like I’m a corner now.”
When the Miami Dolphins drafted Lippett in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft, they knew they were taking on a project. Lippett played wide receiver at Michigan State, where he totaled 1,198 receiving yards in his final season and was named the 2014 Big Ten Receiver of the Year.
Except Miami needed a cornerback. So Lippett made the change.
“It was difficult,” Lippett said. “Now, I kinda know what I’m doing right and what I’m doing wrong. Back then I didn’t really know.”
Lippett is currently listed behind second-year cornerback Xavien Howard on the depth chart for the second starting corner spot, but Lippett occasionally receives reps on the first team.
“He wants the best from me and I want the best from him,” Howard said last week, “and the best man is going to win the job.”
After learning the position for a year, Lippett saw his production increase in his second season with Miami. The 6-foot-3, 192-pound cornerback played in 16 games in 2016 and had four interceptions.
This year, he’s looking to make another leap.
“His technique has gotten better,” starting cornerback Byron Maxwell said. “You can tell his knowledge of the game is getting better. The game is starting to move slow to him. He’s starting to recognize formations and what he can do out there.”
Lippett has also grown more mature, and said he has learned not to put too much stock into one good practice. To him, finding consistency is the next step.
“A lot has changed [in the last few years],” Lippett said, “but it brings the best out of you.”
Tunsil still out
Laremy Tunsil, Miami’s starting left tackle, missed another day of practice, placing his status for Thursday’s game into question.
Tunsil, who didn’t participate in Saturday’s scrimmage at Hard Rock Stadium, has been out for personal reasons, according to Gase.
On Tuesday, Gase said Tunsil was “fine”, but hadn’t made a decision on whether Tunsil will play Thursday. If Tunsil doesn’t play, backup left tackle Sam Young will likely start.