Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
RB Jeremy Langford joins the team.
DAVIE – Running back Jeremy Langford joined the Miami Dolphins for training camp on Tuesday, just one day after signing with the team as a free agent.
It’s a new place for Langford, but some of the faces around him are familiar.
There’s former Chicago Bears teammates David Fales, a backup quarterback, and Josh Sitton, guard, plus Langford’s former college roommate, cornerback Tony Lippett.
Most importantly, Langford knows coach Adam Gase. He played for him with the Chicago Bears when Gase was their offensive coordinator in 2015, and that’s the main reason Langford is here in the first place. That, and Miami’s desire for a little more depth at running back.
“Really, we had an extra spot,” Gase said. “Feel like we needed more depth there, really, for the preseason games, and, you know, he’s somebody that can come in here, you know, he’s familiar with the terminology. A guy who’s able to jump right back in. He’s healthy, you know, he’s coming off some injuries in the past.
“… We felt like we needed another body at that position to come in and compete, and we thought he was a good guy for us to sign.”
Gase didn’t exactly heap praise onto Langford, but that seems appropriate. Thanks to the injury history referenced by Gase, Langford has not played in a game since 2016.
Plus, he’s behind a lot of other Dolphins backs. Kenyon Drake and Frank Gore are already listed as co-starters, and fourthround pick Kalen Ballage will likely get more opportunities than Langford.
Still, the fact that he’s been a free agent since April has driven Langford to push himself. He said he’s been waking up early and working out by himself to be ready when he got another opportunity. Langford’s plan is not to just experience another training camp before heading on his way.
He’s here to improve himself and prolong his career, hopefully with wMiami. But, it could be elsewhere.
“I’m eager. It’s like a fresh start,” Langford said. “I was telling my dad, it’s kind of like I’m getting drafted all over again. It’s a fresh start, and I get to be somewhere else to work hard and I’m hungry. That’s the biggest thing, just go out there and learn and work hard and get better every day.
“… It’s a challenge, I think you can control what you can control. The biggest thing for me is getting on special teams, show my speed and show my talent on tape. Just do it one day at a time and really just do it for all 31 other teams.
That last part is telling. Langford realizes if he’s going to play in more NFL games, it will likely be as a special teamer or a thirddown, pass-catching type.
Luckily for him, that’s where he excels. In 2015, with Gase and the Bears, Langford caught 22 passes for 229 yards, netting 12.7 yards per reception with a touchdown.
“I think I’m versatile,” Langford said. “As far as coming in, I can do everything — third down-andshort, run routes and hit the home run. That’s what I’m coming in and trying to bring to the table.”
In the end, it might not work out for Langford. He has plenty of question marks.
Considering his familiarity with his new teammates and the playbook in general, though, if there’s anywhere Langford has a chance to succeed, it’s with the Dolphins.