Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Rookies set to debut Thursday vs. Titans
DAVIE — Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Xavien Howard, the second-round pick from Baylor, and rookie running back Kenyan Drake, the thirdround pick from Alabama, are likely to make their preseason debuts Thursday against the Tennessee Titans.
“We’re going to play them both,” coach Adam Gase said Sunday. “And really right now we’re going to go through the next couple of days of practice just to kind ... of see where they’re at from a conditioning standpoint. I think they’re in good shape, but obviously it’s not dynamic football shape right now.”
Howard, who had arthroscopic knee surgery at the end of June’s minicamp, is vying for the starting left cornerback job with Tony Lippett and Bobby McCain. Two weeks ago coaches said there was a chance Howard, who missed all of training camp, could start the regularseason opener at Seattle.
“We’re going to line him up and tell him to cover that guy, whoever’s across from him,” Gase said.
Drake is in the mix at running back behind Arian Foster and Jay Ajayi, along with Isaiah Pead (out two weeks with a hamstring injury), Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas.
Suh OK, Pead ailing
Defensive tackle Ndaumkong Suh, who sustained an ankle injury last week against Atlanta and didn’t return to the game, did not practice Sunday but Gase said that was mainly because the team practiced in the indoor practice bubble. It was the same situation for backup middle linebacker James-Michael Johnson (thigh). “The turf seems to affect our [rehabilitating] guys quite a bit,” Gase said . ...
Running back Isaiah Pead (hamstring), a strong candidate to make the 53-man roster, will likely be sidelined “a couple of weeks,” Gase said. That probably means there won’t be any running back cuts until Saturday when teams have to trim their rosters to 53 because Foster and Ajayi will likely be limited against Tennessee, if they play at all.
Cameron mobbed
Tight end Jordan Cameron, who has struggled during the preseason with three drops, two of which could have been touchdowns, had a good day of practice. After a touchdown reception he was mobbed by teammates in the end zone. Gase said such celebrations will be common.
“I think it’s something that offensively we’ve been doing things a little different as far as when we get into the end zone we’re all celebrating together,” he said. “It’s a, not a one-man show, I think those guys have been doing that during games, and it’s really kind of carried over to practice.”
Gase mum on Kaepernick
Gase didn’t have much to say about San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s sit-down protest during the national anthem.
“The only thing I’d say with that is what the league said as far as, every guy’s got their position on certain things,” he said. “They’re able to express it in certain ways. There’s nothing that says they can’t do that. Our guys in our locker room, if they have certain stances they stand behind then it’s not my right to say you can’t do that.”
UM makes a visit
The University of Miami practiced at the Dolphins’ indoor practice facility Sunday after the Dolphins finished using it for the day.
The Hurricanes have had a few of their practices postponed due to inclement weather.