Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Observations from Day 2 of Dolphins minicamp.
Young cornerback taking advantage of opportunity in Howard’s absence
Xavien Howard’s absence from the Miami Dolphins offseason program has provided plenty of opportunities for young cornerbacks on the roster, and there’s nobody who has benefited more from the Pro Bowler’s absence than Noah Igbinoghene.
Igbinoghene, a 2020 first-round pick, struggled in his rookie season when called on to start as a replacement for an injured Byron Jones. But he’s been one of the most improved players this offseason, based on what coaches and his teammates are saying.
Igbinoghene, who started two of the 13 games he played last season and contributed 13 tackles and recovered two fumbles last season, hasn’t just been working on the boundary.
The Dolphins are also cross-training the former Auburn standout to play the nickel spot, where he’d enter the mix with Nik Needham, Justin Coleman and Jason McCourty for the role as the cornerback who covers the slot receiver.
The hope is to get Igbinoghene on the field for more snaps than he played last season as the backup for Howard, who is in a contract dispute with the Dolphins, and Jones. Igbinoghene is open to doing anything that helps him contribute more and allows him to show the growth he’s seeing in his game.
Igbinoghene had one standout play during Wednesday’s practice, which concluded the team’s on-field work of the offseason, when he forced receiver DeVante Parker to catch a pass inside the end zone out of bounds using his body to force the action.
“I just grew as a man, obviously like everybody does,” Igbinoghene said when talking about his rookie season. “Just grew up. I was young last year. I’m still young now, but I’m growing up as a man and figuring things out.”
Ogbah shuts it down
Emmanuel Ogbah, whose first day of participation in the offseason program was Tuesday, sat out Wednesday’s action for undisclosed reasons.
Ogbah was at the facility on Wednesday. To tie his non-participation to his contract dispute with the Dolphins is a stretch, but totally feasible considering he’s slated to make $7.5 million this season in the final year of his deal, and none of it is guaranteed.
Ogbah and his representatives are seeking a new multi-year deal after team-leading nine sacks he produced in 2020. The Dolphins want to see the defensive end replicate that kind of production before giving him a more lucrative deal than the two-year, $15 million contract he signed in 2019 as a free agent.
Practice observations
The Dolphins spent 40 minutes on the practice field before taking the session inside the bubble on Wednesday, for what was the team’s
last on-field practice at Nova Southeastern. The Dolphins will spent the next month moving their football
facility to their new Miami Gardens practice facility being build next to Hard Rock Stadium . ...
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa rebounded well from his five-interception day on Tuesday with some sharp throws during Wednesday session.
First he connected on a deep ball to receiver Jakeem Grant during the 7-on-7 portion of practice. Then he pinpointed a pass to running back Salvon Ahmed on a wheel route, putting the completion in a spot only his intended target could catch it.
Tagovailoa’s throws were sharp and more accurate than what was on display Tuesday . ...
Quarterback Jacoby Brissett ended practice with a deep touchdown thrown to Allen Hurns in 11-on-11s, during hurry-up offense.
Brissett had a solid practice with the exception of the interception he threw to cornerback Javaris
Davis . ...
Defensive end Jason Strowbridge, a fifth-round pick from the 2020 draft class, produced a few pressures during the 11-on-11 periods of practice . ...
Tagovailoa threw a 20-yard crossing route to Will Fuller. After two handoffs, Tagovailoa completed a pass to DeVante Parker for another 10 yards or so. Next play, Tua was just a tad bit long to receiver Albert Wilson, who couldn’t track the deep pass . ...
Tagovailoa was 1 for 3 during 7-on7, goal-line work with a touchdown throw to Hollins while on the run. Brissett threw three straight touchdowns to Grant, Hunter Long and Robert Foster . ...
More 11-on-11, goal line work: Tagovailoa was 1 for 3 with Wilson getting a touchdown broken up by cornerback Jaytlin Askew. Brissett was 2 for 3 with a TD pass to Hollins. And Reid Sinnett was 1 for 2 with a touchdown to Kirk Merritt . ...
At the end of practice, Tagovailoa hit rookie receiver Waddle in stride over the middle for a 50-yard touchdown. Waddle may have been marked down but he was jetting for the house. Two plays later, Tagovailoa threw a touchdown to DeVante Parker.
Injury update
Receiver Preston Williams (foot) and linebacker Elandon Roberts (knee) sat out his second practice while rehabbing the injuries they suffered last season.