Dolphins camp: Rookie Cam Smith leaves practice field, Tyreek talks Eli Apple; plus stock up, stock down

MIAMI GARDENS — Rookie cornerback Cam Smith, the second-round pick from South Carolina, walked off the field cautiously, team personnel by his side, after running out of the back of the end zone and slipping on a sidewalk after a pass play. He stayed on the field for a few more plays after slipping but then left didn’t return. There’s no word on the severity of his ailment, but it might be another issue for a cornerback unit that is piling up issues.

But that was the only downer from a rain-soaked practice that continued outdoors because there was no threat of lightning.

The offense started practice doing practically whatever it wanted in 11-on-11 in both the pass game and run game. The offensive line and pass protection might have been at their best in Friday’s eighth training camp practice.

However, the defense, led by the front seven, came roaring back during the second half of practice to even the overall battle.

Penalties were better Friday than Thursday, when there were at least five false starts, but they crept upward toward the end of practice.

And in other good news it appears All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey is done with his crutches after undergoing left knee surgery July 28. Ramsey was seen on the sideline Friday without the crutches or knee brace he’d been wearing the previous few days. He was only wearing a sleeve on his left leg and walking fairly comfortably. It’s unclear whether that has any effect on his return date.

Lastly, wide receiver Tyreek Hill was in midseason form during his post-practice media interview. Among the things he revealed, in a joking manner, were he wants to “embarrass” cornerback Eli Apple, the subject of a social media beef, and he was surprised/alarmed to get an early-morning phone call from coach Mike McDaniel informing him they planned on signing Apple. Hill joked he was asleep when he fielded the pre-6:30 a.m. call and he wondered if he was being cut.

The Dolphins have a controlled intrasquad scrimmage at 10:45 a.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.

Injury report

Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma (undisclosed) and linebackers Duke Riley (undisclosed ailment) and Malik Reed (undisclosed) worked on the side. Cornerbacks Ethan Bonner (undisclosed) and Keion Crossen (undisclosed) and Ramsey (knee) didn’t practice. Tight end Tanner Conner (undisclosed) and cornerback Nik Needham (Achilles) are on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform). Smith left practice and didn’t return.

Stock up

Wide receiver Robbie Chosen. For the first time in training camp, Chosen was active in both one-on-one drills and 11-on-11. He had a 40-yard reception in 11-on-11, drew a pass interference call with cornerback Eli Apple defending, and in which he went up high to catch a pass.

Stock down

Running back Myles Gaskin. He’s actually had a decent camp but he keeps getting lost in the rotational shuffle and the situation isn’t getting any better. Gaskin is fighting off starting-caliber running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., and rookie third-round pick De’Von Achane, and running back Salvon Ahmed, who has special teams usage. There just aren’t enough meaningful snaps to go around.

Observations

Right guard Robert Hunt had a nice block on defensive lineman Christian Wilkins early in 11-on-11. It was notable because Wilkins has been dominant in training camp and rarely had been blocked one-on-one…

Left tackle Terron Armstead got on the field for at least two plays during 11-on-11, which was his first action of training camp…

Tight ends had one of their more up-and-down days led by Julian Hill’s nice reception from quarterback Mike White, a nice seal block by Tyler Kroft, and a nice reception by Durham Smythe. However, Eric Saubert had a drop and false start on back-to-back plays and rookie Elijah Higgins had a drop while wide open…

Rookie running back De’Von Achane did nice work on a screen pass and as a receiver in general Friday, extending his good camp…

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had a good day passing whether it was short, intermediate or long. The rhythm and timing with Hill and fellow wide receiver Jaylen Waddle seems to be getting better each day…

Cornerback Noah Igbinoghene had a pass break-up in the end zone defending Chosen on a pass thrown by White. Igbinoghene might get another extended look with the first team with the cornerback ailments…

Safeties Jevon Holland is a starter, and safeties DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones seem to be in the running for the starting spot beside him but the race is wide open, according to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. “We’re still looking for the guy to surface next to Jevon, so once we find that, we’ll see if we have a third one,” Fangio said…

Edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah had a nice day, and linebacker Cameron Goode flashed again as the two combined for a sack on White. Ogbah also sacked Tagovailoa…

Defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman had a sack on quarterback Skylar Thompson. It was one of the first times Twyman has made a play in training camp…

Linebacker Channing Tindall had a nice tackle for no gain on third-and-2 from the 9-yard line.

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