Two of the Miami Dolphins’ most important pass catchers for the 2020 season are DeVante Parker and Jakeem Grant. Parker’s importance to the wide receiver room is obvious when you take into account how much volume of the team’s 2019 passing attack ran through the former 1st-round pick. Grant, on the other hand, is Miami’s best chance for a speedy threat to get vertical and keep spacing issues present in opposing defenses. Yes, Parker can get vertical, but Grant is the race car with the blazing fast speed.
But importance to the passing game isn’t the only thing that these two have had in common — durability has been a big question for both players for the better part of their time with the Dolphins. Parker finally pieced together a healthy season last year and was rewarded with over 1,200 receiving yards as a result. But each of his prior seasons saw him battling some lingering issues. Grant, on the other hand, has never had a lot of volume on offense but still managed to land on injured reserve in each of the last two seasons.
Most alarming of all? Both Grant and Parker have experienced minor injuries thus far in training camp. Parker has missed the last week of practice for the Dolphins. And although he is expected to be okay for the start of the season, his setback in durability does threaten Miami’s ability to field a dynamic group of receivers this season.
Despite missing a week of practice, Dolphins WR DeVante Parker's minor injury is not considered a problem in Miami and he will be good to go for the season, a source said.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 2, 2020
Should the Dolphins be worried? Parker has spent more time this past week on the exercise bike at practice than he has running routes. And while Jakeem Grant has at least been dressed for practice, he needs a fully healthy season to buck the narrative about his durability. And Miami needs both to be healthy desperately.
There’s no need to panic, but this is an issue that will need to be watched closely. If the Dolphins continue to see lingering injuries pile up for both players, it will further amplify the team’s need to spend aggressively in upgrading the wide receiver room after the 2020 season comes to a close. In the meantime? They’ll have to make due with what they’ve got — but the team would love for Parker and Grant to both see all 16 games for Miami.