Team news: Miami Dolphins | Page 29

The team announced that wide receiver Byron Pringle has been placed on injured reserve. Pringle injured his ankle in last Sunday’s win over the Raiders.

Related players: Tyreek Hill, Sammy Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, Mecole Hardman.

Pringle had nine catches for 108 yards while appearing in all 10 games. He also returned seven kickoffs for 247 yards, including a 102-yard return for a touchdown in Week 7. It looked like he passed Hardman on the depth chart against the Raiders Sunday night. With Watkins still hurt, Robinson looks to run as the WR2 and Hardman could move up to the WR3 role.

One week after rushing for a career high 85 yards and a touchdown, Dolphins rookie running back Salvon Ahmed had just 43 yards rushing at 3.6 yards per carry. The Dolphins rushed for only 56 yards all day, failing to provide a balanced attack offensively to alleviate pressure on Tua Tagovailoa.

But this is another position Miami must address in the 2021 draft.

Related players: Myles Gaskin, Matt Breida

The story said Sunday was another reminder of how disappointing the unit has been during coach Brian Flores’ two seasons. Offseason acquisitions Jordan Howard (now with the Eagles) and Breida (who had two carries, 4 yards Sunday) have not panned out. Second-year back Gaskin, Miami’s leading rusher, could return from injured reserve in the next week or two. While Ahmed likely continues to get most of the work, it seems like the team misses Gaskin in the backfield. This is probably an area the Dolphins address next spring in the Draft and may mean guys like Gaskin or Ahmed won't be long term solutions at the position.

Chiefs WR snaps with Sammy Watkins (hamstring) inactive and Mecole Hardman (COVID list) activated:

Tyreek Hill 72
Demarcus Robinson 63
Byron Pringle 46
Mecole Hardman 17
Gehrig Dieter 3

With Watkins out, it was Pringle who took over as the team's WR3. But Pringle had just four targets, catching three for 17 yards. Pringle was also returning kicks but suffered and ankle injury and didn't return. Robinson had a line of 6-44-0 as the Chiefs rallied to win and were forced to throw 46 times. But outside of Hill and Travis Kelce who combined for 19 catches, 229 yards and two TDs, there's not a lot of chances, especially when Watkins is able to return.

Dolphins head coach Brian Flores said after Miami’s loss to the Broncos that, despite being benched, Tua Tagovailoa will remain the starting quarterback.

Tua was sacked a whopping six times before Miami sat him. Ryan Fitzpatrick wasn’t much better, going 12/18 for 117 yards and a killer interception at the end of the game to end Miami’s five-game winning streak. Tua will get a chance to bounce back against the 0-10 Jets in Week 12.

There's a need to be realistic for a rookie making his first pro start at quarterback, especially one who has overcome a career-threatening hip injury suffered in November 2019.

Ryan Fitzpatrick was playing well for the 3-3 Dolphins, and he's very comfortable within the scheme. It should not be a surprise to see a Tua Tagovailoa-led offense take an initial step back.

As the story said, what we do know about Tua is he can make all the throws, including some Fitzpatrick can't. Tagovailoa's athleticism provides a new element, and he has spent the past few months soaking up everything from the 16-year veteran QB and 68-year-old offensive coordinator Chan Gailey.

Tua Tagovailoa enjoys utilizing quick receivers with route-running ability. DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are clearly the team’s No. 1 and 2 wideouts, but Isaiah Ford might be one of the better route runners on the team.

Ford relies on his speed and got off to a solid start this season, including a career-best seven-catch, 76 yard-performance against the Bills in Week 2. As the story also said, he has cooled off since and didn’t register a target against the Jets. Ford will be looking to bounce back against the Rams, who are tough defensively both up front and in the secondary. He's a name to keep an eye on and could potentially click with Tua this week.

If Deebo Samuel (hamstring) can't play against the Seahawks, Kendrick Bourne likely would start opposite Brandon Aiyuk, and Dante Pettis likely would be in uniform for the first time in three weeks. The 49ers also have the option of elevating Kevin White or River Cracraft from the practice squad.

The injury happened on a run play. Samuel was second among WRs in snaps behind Aiyuk and from what the article said, Bourne would step into Samuel's role if the injury keeps him out in Week 8.

Tennessee Titans tight end Jonnu Smith logged a full practice session on Thursday.

Smith's injury was deemed to be minor coming out of Week 6, so his return to a full practice on Thursday after a limited practice on Wednesday suggests that he may be left off the final injury report entirely heading into Week 7's contest. Smith should step right back into his normal role and is our eighth ranked tight end for Week 7.