It’s not out of the question that the Miami Dolphins’ $120 million wide receiver could be used on punt returns in 2022.
The Dolphins interestingly placed star wideout Tyreek Hill as the team’s top punt returner, along with veteran running back Raheem Mostert as the No. 1 kick returner in Monday’s depth chart release. With Jaylen Waddle listed as the backup to each, that’s a lot of the team’s top offensive talent on returns.
Coach Mike McDaniel wasn’t shy on Wednesday, ahead of the Dolphins’ first of two joint practices with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, about expressing that he may be willing to use some of Miami’s most valued investments on special teams.
“I’m willing to do anything at any given time at any moment,“ he initially quipped before later offering a more in-depth response.
”There’s an open competition everywhere. We have a lot of people that have the ability to return the ball in the punt and kickoff game, and during the season, we plan to utilize everyone that makes the most sense for the team.
“Remember: Special teams yards are yards, same as defensive yards given up, same as offensive yards gained. We’ll use our players to best move the ball down the field to score touchdowns or stop other people from moving it.”
Hill returned punts earlier in his career with the Kansas City Chiefs, but the six-time Pro Bowl selection hasn’t done it consistently since 2018. Mostert, although initially breaking into the NFL as a kick returner, has not done it in recent years since becoming a reliable NFL tailback with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Dolphins signed Hill to a four-year, $120 million contract upon trading for him with the Chiefs in March. Mostert, 30, who is playing this season after knee surgery that cut his 2021 campaign short after two rush attempts, is making $3.125 million on a one-year deal. Big-money players rarely are major special teams contributors as high-speed collisions are more likely to occur in the open space of the return game.
Deiter returns
Dolphins offensive lineman Michael Deiter returned to practice on Wednesday after a two-week absence since the team’s first training camp session with a foot injury.
“He looks good,” said starting center Connor Williams. “I think he was really excited to be able to get back on the field, and we’ve obviously missed him. He’s a great person and he’s a great contribution to the O-line, and we needed him out there. I think he did very well.”
Deiter, who was the team’s starting center last season when healthy, missed nine games in 2021 dealing with the foot ailment.
On Wednesday, Deiter was involved in 1-on-1 and even limited team drills against the Buccaneers front, at one point helping to open up a big run for running back Salvon Ahmed.
Shaheen trade
McDaniel addressed the Dolphins’ trade of tight end Adam Shaheen for a late pick swap in the 2023 NFL draft, sending a seventh-round selection to the Houston Texans for a sixth-rounder.
“To our tight end room’s credit, we thought that we could afford in investing in the future draft capital,” McDaniel said. “We were happy for Adam. We were happy for the Dolphins that we were able to do that.”
The Dolphins still have Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe leading the tight end unit, which is learning a new offense under McDaniel this training camp. Second-year player Hunter Long now has an opportunity to elevate his standing. Cethan Carter is a sound blocker and special teams contributor, while the Dolphins also have undrafted rookie Tanner Conner at the position.
Physicality rules
Joint practices are known to get a little more physical than when teams open training camp against their own teammates. McDaniel set the tone for how he wants his players to stay out of extracurricular activity after the whistle against the Buccaneers.
“We’re approaching it exactly like we approach our own practices, where it’s important to me for guys not to fight with their teammates,” said McDaniel. “Sometimes it happens, but you make sure that players understand that anything outside of the whistle is only hurting the team.”
Two quick dust-ups occurred on Wednesday as Bucs running back Leonard Fournette struck Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins’ helmet after a run and Miami safety Brandon Jones popped a Tampa tailback, leading to a shoving match.
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