If not Sunday night, then when for Cam Smith? And Dolphins personnel notes, by position
If not Sunday in Philadelphia, then when?
That’s the question that’s fair to ask about second-round rookie cornerback Cam Smith in the wake of the rookie receiving no defensive snaps against the Eagles, in spite of Miami playing without its top two boundary cornerbacks – Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard.
Smith has played only four defensive snaps all season, late in Miami’s blowout win of Carolina. He said he received more reps in practice last week than at any time, but that didn’t translate to game action beyond special teams.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio instead opted to continue to use Eli Apple and Kader Kohou, who played all 72 defensive snaps. Fangio also used Parry Nickerson (45 snaps) and safety Elijah Campbell (five snaps) ahead of Smith, Justin Bethel (who also didn’t get any defensive snaps) and Kelvin Joseph, who was inactive.
Howard, who missed Sunday’s game with a groin injury, could return Sunday against New England (1 p.m., CBS) or Nov. 5 against Kansas City in Germany.
Ramsey, recovering from August knee surgery, could be back either in those two games – the Dolphins seem optimistic about that - or at worst, Nov. 19 against Las Vegas. [Update: Ramsey will get defensive practice reps this week, as opposed to practice reps, and ESPN says he might play this week.]
And the Dolphins must activate Needham by Wednesday for him to be eligible to play this season. Needham has played in 51 games and started 27 in his Dolphins career, and Fangio said he has heard good things about him and is eager to see more of him.
Asked why Smith didn’t play, coach Mike McDaniel said:
“It’s just the natural growth. There’s many different journeys that players take and he’s got a room of very capable players and I think you have to do right by the team and right by the player to make sure they’re appropriately versed. The main thing with him is that by all testaments he’s getting better and better and closer and closer to doing that.
“You don’t just have guys learn on the fly with a position like that, in my opinion, because it’s like a quarterback where you don’t want to hurt their progression by having them see the field too soon. There can be scar tissue with that. I really like the way Cam goes about his business and he’ll see his time on the field at some point. But tonight was not that night.”
Against Philadelphia, Apple was targeted 11 times and allowed eight receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown, equaling a 132.4 passer rating in his coverage area. Per PFF, quarterbacks have a 95.3 passer rating in his coverage area this season.
Kohou deflected a pass that led to a Jerome Baker interception return for a touchdown, but his overall metrics, per PFF, weren’t good: eight receptions in nine targets for 125 yards and a touchdown, a 155.8 passer rating against. Per PFF, quarterbacks have a 132.6 passer rating in Kohou’s coverage area, compared with an excellent 80.7 last season.
As for Howard, he said on Friday that he would play against Philadelphia. But the team wanted to be cautious, fully aware that center Connor Williams (and other players) have aggravated groin injuries that hadn’t fully healed.
“That’s something that I talk to you guys a lot about is trying to protect players from themselves and sometimes competitors can be shortsighted in their scope,” McDaniel said. “So, it just didn’t seem – with that position, with that injury – it didn’t seem prudent, to kind of, press the envelope at this stage knowing how important he is for the entirety of the season.
“He had a good week and he’ll be chomping at my ear this next week, probably every day, because he definitely didn’t like watching this game in street clothes, for sure.”
WILSON’S RETURN
Running back Jeff Wilson Jr., who missed the first six games with a rib and finger injury, logged only seven snaps, compared with 26 for Raheem Mostert and 18 for Salvon Ahmed.
Wilson caught one target in the passing game (for four yards) but didn’t receive a carry; Salvon Ahmed (two carries, three yards) played ahead of Wilson as the No. 2 running back.
Asked if he knew he wouldn’t get a carry and whether the team was easing him back slowly, Wilson said: “All I know is stay ready and be prepared. I’m not a coach so I can’t control any of that.”
He said his “body feels great. I’m glad to be back with the team. Every opportunity you have to cherish.”
Incidentally, fullback Alec Ingold played just 12 snaps, fewer than usual.
▪ Linebacker Bradley Chubb, who had two sacks, said the loss didn’t change the Dolphins’ notion that they can go toe to toe with the league’s best. He said there’s a “possibility we could see” Philadelphia again, meaning in the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
NOTES BY POSITION
Some notes at other positions, besides running back and cornerback:
▪ Offensive line: Isaiah Wynn played just five snaps before departing with a quadriceps injury. Lester Cotton played 44 snaps at left guard and allowed four pressures. PFF rated him Miami’s worst pass blocking lineman among the five who played most of the game.
McDaniel will address Wynn’s status late Monday afternoon.
▪ Receiver: Chase Claypool made his Dolphins debut but played only four offensive snaps, compared with 29 for Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Braxton Berrios. Jaylen Waddle was limited to 22 snaps because of a back injury but returned to the game; Tyreek Hill played 38.
▪ Defensive line: Christian Wilkins played 69 of 72 defensive snaps and Zach Sieler played 65. Raekwon Davis played 39 and Da’Shawn Hand five.
▪ Safety: De’Shon Elliott again played all defensive snaps (72 of them), and Jevon Holland missed only four snaps after a collision with linebacker David Long Jr. Holland returned to the game but Long did not.
Beyond Campbell’s five snaps, former starter Brandon Jones played four during Holland’s brief absence.
▪ Edge players: Emmanuel Ogbah played just three snaps, his fewest as a Dolphin. Jaelan Phillips, working his way back from an oblique injury, played 50 snaps and Chubb said Phillips “called his shot” on a sack late in the first half – the first sack that Eagles All Pro right tackle Lane Johnson has allowed since 2020.
Chubb played 65 snaps and Andrew Van Ginkel 43.
▪ Inside linebackers: Jerome Baker played all 72 snaps. Long (37 snaps) was playing well before colliding with Holland. Duke Riley played six snaps.
