Dolphins Training camp day 2.

Veteran offensive tackle Terron Armstead, who sat out seven games last season and four the year before with various injuries, turned 33 on Tuesday. Besides riding the stationary bicycle on the sideline, he didn't participate on Wednesday.

"The plan is to make sure that we have a good relationship with him because he wants to play football really bad," McDaniel said. "To make sure that he's involved to the point that he feels outstanding while also trying to do right for him and keep him out of his own way because when he goes, he likes to go.

"He can't stand not playing football all the time. We'll be battling him on that. There will be days of full participation, days of partial and days that make sense for a couple young guys to get opportunities. It will be very, very fluid, but he's in a great place. Healthy as ever. Really spry, I feel like he thinks he's 23 years old right now. So, he's feeling himself and we want to make sure that that doesn't end up in a negative situation."

 

As is usual, McDaniel avoids predicting timetables for the return of injured players, so he didn't bite when asked for a timeline for linebacker/pass rusher Bradley Chubb (ACL surgery for the third time after going down in Game 17), linebacker Jaelen Phillips (Achilles' surgery in November), or most recently linebacker David Long, Jr. (unknown), all placed on active/PUP.

"I get concerned with things like that when we're supremely down in numbers because I'm not settling roster battles in a basement with magnets," joked McDaniel. "The opportunity in each position group when someone is not practicing, that's what I'm focused on. Now, when the numbers get dwindled.

"But there are especially at the stack backer position, there's some great competition. If you want to tell me the final depth chart of that position, let me know because I have no clue. So guys being able to be out on the field, as long as we have enough guys that we can fully give dudes good opportunities to set where they're at on the depth chart, then I'm good to go."

 

In his first practice with the Miami Dolphins, veteran safety Marcus Maye wore a backup fullback’s number and displayed (at least on one rep) a backup fullback’s ability to catch the ball.

“I gotta catch those,” Maye said with bemused exasperation after dropping a surefire interception during training camp Day 1. “I ain’t gonna drop no more. So I gotta make sure I catch those, bring those in.”

How Marcus Maye Fits With Miami Dolphins
Maye — who due to scarcity of available numbers is now wearing practice jersey No. 46 –should have plenty of chances going forward, particularly if Tua Tagovailoa continues to boycott parts of practices in protest of his contract situation.

The Dolphins’ backup quarterbacks struggled Wednesday, throwing a half dozen or so interceptable passes.

In their defense, it’s a tall task going against a talented Dolphins secondary that got even better last month when Maye signed a one-year, $1.4 million free agent contract.

Maye won’t be handed the starting job opposite Jevon Holland, but don’t be surprised if he earns it over the next six weeks. Maye will compete with Jordan Poyer for snaps, but the expectation should be that all three safeties see the field at the same time in 2024.

Asked what he brings to the table, Maye replied: “Just my versatility. You know, I can do a lot of things on the football field, free safety, strong safety, — anything you need — special teams.”

That’s an intriguing prospect for a defensive backfield that already has Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller, who also have great position versatility. It will be fascinating to see in the coming months how new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver uses them all.

“I’m sure [Weaver] has got a lot of tricks up his sleeve,” Maye said. “And that was a reason why I wanted to come, with him and the versatility that we have in the back end, just being here and being a part of it. I’m excited for it.”

Maye has long been a respected player in the league. He started 77 games and earned $31.9 million in his first seven seasons but surprisingly went the first three months of his latest free agency without signing with a team.

“I took the process for what it was,” Maye said. “This was probably the longest time I’ve been through it. But I weighed all my options. We reached out and did everything that we could, and this was the best option for me.”
Playing alongside Ramsey — his longtime friend — is never a bad option.

“I’ve known Jalen since college,” Maye said. “He hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still one of the top corners in this league, if not the best. Jalen is gonna be Jalen, so I’m excited to actually be on his side now.”

 

He got back in the next play and then left again. He didn't return to practice and was attended to by training staff. It didn't appear to be bad but waiting for more information.