Shoulder could sideline Fins’ steady long-snapper

DAVIE — John Denney is one of those guys you don’t think much about until a snap is skipping on the ground and a punt or field goal is botched.

And that really doesn’t happen when Denney’s in the game, which is pretty much always. Which is why we all take Denney for granted.

Denny has been Miami’s long snapper for all 16 games in 13 consecutive seasons, plus Sunday’s opener, which is a sort-of-ridiculous 209 games in a row.

Denney is so good at his job he was recently included on The Palm Beach Post’s list of the top 10 Dolphins to trust in 2018.

“Well, I’ve been doing this a few years,” Denney said last Friday, when told of the glorious distinction.

Denney actually did skip a snap in Sunday’s opener against the Titans, though, but with good reason. Turns out Denney had injured his shoulder.

On Monday, coach Adam Gase couldn’t say Denney would be fine.

“Right now, we’re still evaluating John Denney,” Gase said, which is sort of like not knowing if Tony Bennett is going to perform next Sunday in New York, as scheduled.

Denney actually missed a snap against the Titans. And because backup snapper and linebacker Mike Hull is on injured reserve, nobody really knew who would do it.

The Dolphins didn’t have a backup snapper listed on their depth chart.

Turns out rookie tight end Durham Smythe made the snap.

“I found out right before the ball was snapped,” Gase said. “That was interesting.”

Nobody really noticed the snap. So it must have been fine.

Denney, Miami’s iron man, the NFL’s iron man, returned to the game later. But he’s now being evaluated dayto-day.

Last season, the Dolphins brought a banged-up Denney to London and though the team got smashed, Denney did do the snapping. See, he always does the snapping.

Denney has done the snapping for Nick Saban, Cam Cameron, Tony Sparano, Todd Bowles, Joe Philbin, Dan Campbell and Adam Gase.

That’s seven of the 12 coaches in Dolphins history. Which means, yeah, he’s seen and heard a few things.

The Dolphins often bring in a rookie snapper to compete with Denney. That rookie snapper (this year it was TCU’s Lucas Gravelle) could always save a few bucks, but Miami has always thought, “Would it really be worth not having John Denney?”

After all, he’s always there. On Sunday, Smythe was the emergency fill-in. It turns out Smythe had volunteered to snap if something, you know, wildly unexpected were to happen. Gase said Miami’s special-teams coaches always ask if anyone at all has snapped before.

“They can tell you if a guy snapped in middle school or something,” Gase said. “They always have an idea.”

Fins bringing back C Swanson: The Dolphins are signing center Travis Swanson, according to an NFL source.

Swanson, 6-foot-5, 304 pounds, was a former thirdround pick of the Detroit Lions. Swanson also spent time in training camp with the New York Jets this season.

The Dolphins happen to face the Jets on Sunday in New Jersey.

Prior to the season opener against the Titans, the Dolphins signed quarterback Luke Falk, who had been with Tennessee in training camp. The Titans had to change up a few things prior to kickoff.

The Dolphins’ backup center, Jake Brendel, had previously been placed on injured reserve due to a calf injury. Guard Ted Larsen served as backup center in the opener.

Swanson, who had signed with Miami prior to the opener before being quickly cut for Brandon Bolden, played 53 games, with 42 starts, in Detroit.