Dolphins’ Flores reaffirms ‘Tua is our quarterback’
Undrafted rookies Williams, Jones are viewed as developmental pieces
MIAMI GARDENS — When the Miami Dolphins trimmed their active roster to 53 players on Tuesday, two undrafted rookies survived the cuts: Cornerback Trill Williams and offensive guard Robert Jones.
Dolphins coach Brian Flores feels both are young pieces the team can develop while keeping them available for regular-season
games after impressive training camps and preseasons.
“Two young guys who really made a lot of improvement from
spring to the early part of training camp and getting into games, doing some nice things,” Flores said Wednesday. “We just felt like, two young guys who we can
continue to develop and work with.
“With continued development,
we may have something, but a lot of that is on their plate. I think we see some potential, but they’re going to have to continue doing the things that they’ve already started to do from a work-ethic standpoint, from a routine standpoint.”
Jones, a Middle Tennessee State alum, had an impressive showing in the preseason finale at Cincinnati, playing all 65 snaps at right guard. He was physical, opening up holes consistently for running back Gerrid Doaks and protecting quarterback Reid Sinnett, allowing him to throw for 343 yards and two touchdowns in the comeback win.
“He’s a very hard worker,” said guard Solomon Kindley, who has a locker next to Jones. “It’s a great opportunity to be around something this special, and he really picked up on it because he went to a [ junior college], then went to Middle Tennessee. Now he’s in a big organization like this. He’s capitalizing on it. He’s a great player.”
Williams, a Syracuse product, was strong in coverage throughout camp. At one point, he saw brief action with the first-team defense while starters Xavien Howard and Byron Jones rested. He played 25 percent of snaps at Cincinnati and had a tackle, but Williams has missed the two practices since.
“Two competitive guys who want to get better,” Flores said. “I think, if we just continue to work with them, they’ll have a chance.”
Flores summarized what cut-down day was like in Miami Gardens.
“We always try to do what’s best for the team,” he said. “A lot of tough decisions, really, across the board starting last week, a couple of weeks ago and then kind of culminating yesterday, the last couple of days. They’re all tough decisions, veterans, some younger players who we thought played and practiced well. But we could only keep 53 and 16 on the practice squad.”
Wilson returns: Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson returned to Dolphins practice on Wednesday.
Wilson was seen with a sleeve on his right leg. He had missed three-plus consecutive weeks of practice, going back to the team’s joint practices with the Bears ahead of the preseason opener in Chicago.
Wilson had been seen making progress by doing conditioning on a stationary bike in recent practices before his Wednesday return.
Will Fuller continued to miss practice. Fuller is now on the reserve/suspended list as he has the one game remaining on his six-game suspension for use of performance-enhancing drugs that dates back to the end of the 2020 season with the Houston Texans.
Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg and tight end Adam Shaheen continue to miss drills after being held out at the tail end of last week.
Wide receiver DeVante Parker was in a second consecutive practice without a red, non-contact jersey. Fellow wideout Preston Williams was back to working with the receiving corps on Wednesday after he did conditioning on the side of Tuesday’s drills.
Mancz ready to contribute:
Newly acquired Dolphins offensive lineman Greg Mancz was getting ready to face the Washington Football Team in a preseason game with the Baltimore Ravens when he found out he was getting traded to Miami.
“I got a call, flew out right away,” said Mancz on Wednesday after the Saturday transaction. “I’m extremely excited, still. I consider myself very fortunate.”
Mancz, one of nine offensive linemen to make the team’s 53-man roster, was told he was coming in to provide depth and competition on the line. The Dolphins had uneven line play during training camp and the preseason after the young unit also saw its struggles in 2020.
“Honestly, they told me to compete,” Mancz said. “I’m going to try to add value, do whatever they need me to do, wherever they need me to do it, and just play hard.