Dolphins rookie CB Cam Smith won’t be sidelined ‘long term,’ team says

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Cam Smith, who left Friday’s 19-3 loss to Atlanta with a right shoulder ailment, won’t be gone for an extended period, coach Mike McDaniel said Sunday. Smith was on the practice field Sunday and was fully dressed but didn’t participate in any 11-on-11 or 7-on-7 drills. 

There’s no update on whether wide receiver Jaylen Waddle will practice or play this week against the Texans in Houston. Waddle left last Wednesday’s practice with a midsection injury, coach Mike McDaniel said. But he didn’t give a date for Waddle’s return.

“When exactly it is, I don’t really know but I’m very happy where he’s at,” McDaniel said of Waddle’s return.

Smith, the second-round pick from South Carolina, had been getting more active in training camp recently against the run and the pass. In the run game he’s stuck his nose into plays to make tackles, and in the pass game he consistently gets his hands on passes to knock them down.

“He got his feet wet in a NFL game and he showed his teammates a couple of things and made some good plays,” McDaniel said of Smith’s performance against Atlanta.

“As far as his injury we’re fortunate that I don’t think it’s long term at all. With regard to his treatment and his body the timeline is a little gray but it’s not long term at all, (the) next couple of weeks, (or it) could be sooner than later.”

McDaniel was asked whether Smith is out for the rest of preseason.

“I couldn’t even say that,” he said. “The timeline really has to do with how his body responds.”

Smith has a chance to earn a starting role in the nickel package. Fellow cornerbacks Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou will likely be starters in the nickel with Howard on the boundary and Kohou in the slot. The Dolphins are looking for someone to take the other boundary job vacated by Jalen Ramsey (left knee surgery).

Among the boundary cornerback candidates in addition to Smith are veterans Noah Igbinoghene and Eli Apple.

As for others who left the game early, wide receiver Braxton Berrios got stitches in his forehead as a result of a play in Friday’s game. He’ll be out for a couple of days, at least.

Roster moves

The Dolphins signed wide receiver Keke Coutee and defensive back Jamal Perry, and waived/injured wide receiver Freddie Swain and cornerback Mark Gilbert on Sunday.

Coutee, a 2018 fourth-round pick by Houston out of Texas Tech, has also spent time with Indianapolis and, most recently, New Orleans.

Perry, undrafted out of Iowa State in 2017 when he was known as Jomal Wiltz, was with the Dolphins from 2019-22 after spending time with Philadelphia (2017) and New England (2017-18).

Swain, who played 25 snaps from scrimmage against Atlanta as well as five special teams snaps, reportedly has a hamstring injury. Swain, a 2020 sixth-round pick by Seattle out of Florida, had one target and no receptions against the Falcons.

Gilbert was undrafted out of Duke in 2021 and has spent time with Detroit and Pittsburgh.

Sunday’s additional practice

The Dolphins weren’t originally scheduled to practice Sunday, but the session was added about a week ago.

McDaniel arranged the training camp schedule to mirror the regular season from the standpoint the Dolphins won’t practice more than three consecutive days, which is the case during the season when the team goes Wednesday-Friday. Tuesday is usually an off day in the regular season and Saturday is a walk-through practice. 

If the Dolphins didn’t practice Sunday, those who didn’t play Friday would have had four consecutive off days.

“Four days off of football and what we’re trying to do makes me nervous,” McDaniel said, before quipping about himself, “Don’t worry, I gave the person who made the schedule an earful, and then I listened.”

This week’s schedule

The Dolphins will also practice Monday, the session will be indoors like Sunday’s practice. The team then travels Tuesday, practices against the Texans on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, have an off day Friday, and play the Texans at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Quarterback Skylar Thompson is the likely starter because Mike White started the Falcons game.

McDaniel hasn’t yet said whether starters will play against Houston.

Achane makes big plays, other notes

Rookie running back De’Von Achane had 104 all-purpose yards among his 38-yard kickoff return, 25 yards rushing and 41 yards receiving. … Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, last year’s fourth-round pick, had 67 yards from scrimmage Friday with two carries for 52 yards, including a 39-yard carry, and three receptions for 15 yards. … For those who keep track, the Dolphins were 0-3 in the red zone Friday, lost the turnover battle, 4-0, and had eight penalties for 72 yards. On the positive side, Atlanta was held to 3 of 12 on third downs.