O’Leary looks like a winner in battle for No. 1 tight end

DAVIE — Early morning showers created a humid, sticky practice for the Miami Dolphins on Wednesday as the team prepares for its 1 p.m. scrimmage on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Here are some observations from the Dolphins’ sixth training camp session:

Stock up

Second-year tight end Mike Gesicki may be lining up with the first-team offense at times in practice, but four-year veteran Nick O’Leary has unquestionably been the best player at the position throughout training camp.

O’Leary is the Dolphins’ best blocking tight end, especially with veteran Dwayne Allen injured since camp started and former UM standout Clive Walford also injured. While that may not be saying much for the players in the group, O’Leary’s experience as a pass catcher at Florida State and with the Buffalo Bills before joining Miami have been on display.

O’Leary had a stellar catch over Dolphins cornerback Cornell Armstrong during a 1-on-1 drill on Wednesday, among other catches he has caught from Ryan Fitzpatrick and Josh Rosen throughout camp. O’Leary is outplaying Gesicki, who continues to struggle with physicality, and second-year tight end Durham Smythe.

Stock down

A day after being named the leader in the Dolphins quarterback competition by coach Brian Flores, Fitzpatrick regressed in Wednesday’s practice. It arguably may have been his worst training camp session, following Saturday’s bad performance where three turnovers plagued that outing.

On Wednesday, Fitzpatrick saw constant pressure by the Dolphins defense and he threw interceptions to cornerback Xavien Howard and linebacker/safety T.J. McDonald. While Rosen had a relatively better day, making crisper throws with fewer miscues, Fitzpatrick still leads the Dolphins battle. But Fitzpatrick’s performance, in the second practice of the second week, shows Rosen has plenty of time to make up ground for the starting job.

Observations

Rosen had a strong day in practice, his second of training camp. While Fitzpatrick’s struggles did cast a better light on Rosen, he began practice throwing with some added velocity in warm-ups, and looked sharp with passes thrown to receiver Trenton Irwin, O’Leary, and a touchdown pass to receiver Preston Williams in 11-on-11 drills. It was an encouraging session from Rosen, a day after being indirectly called out by the Dolphins coaches, with Flores saying Fitzpatrick was the leader for the starting quarterback job.

Dolphins receiver/kick returner Jakeem Grant suffered a lower leg injury during practice after catching a slant pass from Fitzpatrick during 7-on-7s. While Grant returned to the sidelines, he did not return to practice. The Dolphins were attempting to take a cautious approach to Grant’s workload in training camp as works his way back from a left foot injury that ended his season prematurely a year ago.

Super Bowl champion tight end Dwayne Allen returned to practice, after starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list with an undisclosed injury. But Allen finished Wednesday’s practice working inside the Dolphins’ facility with a trainer while walking with a limp.

New Dolphins cornerback Eric Rowe received praise from Flores before practice, and capitalized with an interception of Rosen on a pass where receiver Brice Butler got past him downfield. Rowe continues to compete for the second starting cornerback job opposite Howard.

McDonald seems to be carving out a role in Flores’ defense, working in a pseudo linebacker/safety role where he has shown an active, physical presence in training camp. McDonald’s interception of Fitzpatrick was a highlight play, but his constant pressure has been an asset the Dolphins hope to use to their advantage.

New starting right tackle Jesse Davis had a rough day in his second day transitioning to the position after playing every offensive snap at right guard last season. While Davis stayed in the same role, new offensive linemen like Shaq Calhoun and Will Holden played in multiple positions for the second straight day. Calhoun worked with the first team at right guard, while Holden moved to backup left tackle after playing right guard. Overall, the Dolphins’ offensive line situation remains fluid while Miami searches for four new starters to play alongside starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil.

Rookie outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel continues to get some work in select packages with the first- and secondteam defenses as a pass rusher.

JOHN MCCALL/SUN SENTINEL Dolphins tight end Nick O’Leary during the fourth day of training camp on Sunday.