Tag: Albert Wilson

Former Dolphins WR Albert Wilson to sign with Vikings

He’s the seventh offensive player from the 2021 roster to leave in free agency.

The Miami Dolphins have done a great job keeping their talent together from their 2021 roster, but not every player who hit free agency was made a priority.

On Tuesday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that former Dolphins wideout Albert Wilson is signing with the Minnesota Vikings. Wilson follows offensive lineman Jesse Davis to rock the purple and gold after the aqua and orange.

Wilson spent four years in Miami, but he only played in three seasons due to a COVID-19 opt-out in 2020. During his time with the Dolphins, Wilson recorded 94 receptions for 955 yards and five touchdowns.

With general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel bringing in so many players at the position this offseason, it felt unlikely that Wilson would return to Miami. However, the Dolphins do play the Vikings this season, so fans may see Wilson back at Hard Rock Stadium later this year.

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Dolphins free agent profile: Is it time to move on from Albert Wilson

Could there be an upgrade made at wide receiver this offseason?

NFL free agency is under two weeks away now, meaning we are extremely close to the start of the 2022 league year. New Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will be tasked with doing everything in their power to upgrade their roster this offseason.

Miami is set to have 28 unrestricted, restricted and exclusive-rights free agents when the league year starts on March 16, including wide receiver Albert Wilson.

Wilson returned to the Dolphins in 2021 after opting out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, and after looking really solid in training camp, many believed Wilson was primed to have a great year.

Unfortunately for the receiver and the team, that wasn’t exactly the case. Statistically, 2021 was the worst season of Wilson’s seven-year career, as he recorded just 25 receptions for 213 yards without a touchdown.

At 29 years old, Wilson has found a role as a third or fourth wide receiver in the offenses he’s played a part in due to his shiftiness and athleticism. That’s essentially his ceiling.

The Dolphins have seven receivers under contract for 2022, including Jaylen Waddle, Devante Parker, Allen Hurns, Lynn Bowden, River Cracraft, Cody Core, and DeVonte Dedmon. Of that group, only two received significant opportunities this past year.

With this being the case, it could be stated that the organization needs both top-end wideout talent and some better depth to make McDaniel, Tua Tagovailoa, and offensive coordinator Frank Smith’s lives easier.

Because of his poor performance this past year, Wilson likely won’t get a huge deal on the open market, and with that need for depth, there’s a chance he ends up back in Miami on a team-friendly contract. However, there are some options in free agency and the draft that may be more promising.

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Dolphins getting two players back from the COVID list Friday

The Dolphins are expected to have six players on the COVID list going into the weekend.

The Miami Dolphins are getting some reinforcements back on Friday as they prepare for their Week 17 matchup against the Tennessee Titans.

During his media availability, head coach Brian Flores announced that guard Solomon Kindley and wide receiver Albert Wilson will return from the COVID list and be at their final practice of the week.

Miami is expected to have six players on the reserve/COVID list entering the weekend, including safety Brandon Jones, defensive tackle Adam Butler, wide receiver Preston Williams, defensive tackle John Jenkins, wide receiver Allen Hurns (IR), and practice squad guard Durval Queiroz Neto.

The team has until Saturday afternoon to remove players from the COVID list. If they remain on the list, they will not be able to participate in this game. They could always do what they did with Jevon Holland a couple of weeks back, and remove them from the list, and hope that they clear protocols on Sunday before kickoff.

Butler and Jones are obviously the most impactful players still on the list. If they aren’t able to go, this game becomes a lot tougher for the Dolphins.

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Dolphins add two more to the COVID list on Sunday before matchup with the Saints

Miami has eight players on the COVID list heading into Monday.

Heading into their Monday night game against the New Orleans Saints, the Miami Dolphins are adding two more offensive players to the reserve/COVID list.

Wide receiver Albert Wilson and guard Solomon Kindley will miss the game after being placed on the list Sunday afternoon. The two join cornerback Justin Coleman, linebacker Duke Riley, center Greg Mancz, guard Robert Jones, tight end Cethan Carter, and wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. (IR) as players with COVID-19.

With Wilson out, Isaiah Ford and Preston Williams should get more opportunities in the passing game. Ford has had a larger role in recent weeks, especially with Jaylen Waddle out last week, so it could be expected that he would get the first shot to replace Wilson.

Kindley started earlier in the season before Austin Jackson took the left guard spot, but he hasn’t played an offensive snap since Week 2. He was also one of the Dolphins’ only options for a backup offensive lineman with the only other being Cameron Tom who was elevated from the practice squad.

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Who is Dolphins most critical replacement with absence of Will Fuller?

Who is Dolphins most critical replacement with absence of Will Fuller?

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Will Fuller has been rules out of Sunday’s contest against the Buffalo Bills with a ‘personal issue’. It goes without saying that some things are more important than football and whatever private issue Fuller is dealing with, it can hopefully come to a peaceful and happy conclusion. But while Fuller takes the time away from the game to tend to his personal matters, the show will go on for the Dolphins without him; and up next is a major hurdle in the race for the AFC East.

Which brings the question of who the Dolphins most need to elevate their game in the absence of Fuller on the field?

The answer is the man who was presumably taking his reps during Sunday’s contest against the New England Patriots: wide receiver Albert Wilson.

Now, Miami could ultimately choose to move rookie Jaylen Waddle into the designated routes for Fuller in the offense on plays in which the team is hoping to dial up a deep shot — if Miami’s objective is to consistently target their best players in their best situations, Waddle most certainly has the kind of blinding speed that will warrant being placed in a role to run routes vertically down the field. But Wilson needs to live up to the expectations he set for himself when he was one of the most electric receivers in training camp. It was Wilson, not Fuller or Waddle or Parker, who was seemingly unstoppable for the first two weeks of training camp.

Miami needs Wilson to be that guy again. So whether he’s directly taking Fuller’s routes in the game plan or if he’s taking Waddle’s routes as Waddle moves to take Fuller’s Wilson needs to find the best version of himself for however long Will Fuller is away from the game. That’s Miami’s best (and arguably only) hope to field the same kind of explosive threats and big-play potential they dreamed of when they signed Fuller in free agency back in March.

We’ll see if Wilson is up to the task. But he’s the next man up and Miami needs him to deliver.

How concerned should Dolphins be about WR injuries?

How concerned should Dolphins be about WR injuries?

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The Miami Dolphins locked horns with the Chicago Bears on Wednesday for the first of two joint practices and the team’s offensive performance could be classified as something of a mixed bag. There was plenty of good and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa navigated pressure well enough; but one can’t help but wonder what things could look like if the Dolphins got the rest of their talent from the skill group into the fray.

DeVante Parker. Will Fuller. Preston Williams. Albert Wilson.

No, this isn’t just an inventory of the top of the Dolphins’ wide receiver depth chart. This is a summary of all the Dolphins receivers who did not suit up for Wednesday’s practice against Chicago. And given the issues present last year for Miami with a watered down wide receiver corp, any traumatic flashbacks of the 2020 unit would be understandable.

So what gives? Is it time to push the panic button after Miami overhauled the receiver room, only to see injuries bottleneck the progress?

Not yet. Williams is still recovering from foot surgery that ended his 2020 campaign and his return is indefinite. He’s also likely the Dolphins’ 6th-best receiver at best given the influx in talent.

Wilson and Parker have apparent minor injuries and their status on a daily basis may simply be a case of load management and not pushing players too hard, too fast. Parker is reported to have a hamstring issue.

Fuller is a bit of a mystery, as he has not practiced since Day 1 of training camp. But he’s also set to serve a suspension for Week 1 based off of a 2020 drug test and therefore has a little bit more runway to prep for the season.

It is certainly not time to push the panic button. But this is a situation worth monitoring given that this group of wide receivers has seemingly dealt with injuries every year of their respective careers. These four receivers have combined to total 20 cumulative years of NFL experience between them (including Albert Wilson’s 2020 opt out). And in those 20 combined years of NFL play, the foursome of Williams, Parker, Fuller and Wilson has combined to complete just two full 16-game seasons.

Two of twenty. Or, if you’re feeling generous and don’t want to count Wilson’s opt-out, two of nineteen.

And so the Dolphins’ attention must go into how to best align these injuries for the start of the season and be prepared to be without any one given player on any given week. Because based on the track record, it will happen. But given the depths of Miami’s wide receiver room, it would seem as though this isn’t anything that is a surprise to the Dolphins. They’re well prepared, it is still early and if there was a game tomorrow, we’d bet half of the four receivers in question (Wilson and Parker) would play.

So while we should be watching this situation closely, there’s nothing to officially worry about. Yet.

Watch: Tua Tagovailoa, Albert Wilson continue chemistry with score

Watch: Tua Tagovailoa, Albert Wilson continue chemistry with score

Tuesday’s first day of padded practice was quiet as it related to the Dolphins’ passing attack. Almost too quiet, especially when contrasting it to all of the reports out of camp about how potent Miami’s weaponry has been and how dynamic second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has looked. His favorite target through the first week and a half of training camp is not the team’s No. 1 draft choice, Jaylen Waddle. It isn’t the team’s 2020 leading receiver, DeVante Parker. And it isn’t the team’s top free agent signing, Will Fuller.

It is none other than Albert Wilson — the receiver who returns this season after opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns over COVID-19.

And the duo kickstarted Miami’s passing attack on Wednesday after the team (by design) kept things working on the ground throughout their first day of pads. The best link between the two was spotlighted by the Dolphins’ social media after practice — giving Dolphins fans a glimpse at what might be the team’s best pairing this season if the start of camp is any indication.

The drill took place down in the red zone during an early period of practice and saw Tagovailoa zip a throw into a void in zone coverage despite rolling to his right — away from his throwing side. Getting any level of juice or accuracy when rolling away from your throwing arm as a quarterback is a challenge; as you need to get your momentum coming into the line of scrimmage and you also need to get the shoulders all the way around to square to throw. It’s asking a lot of your body.

And, as you can see, Tagovailoa did it just fine. The pair didn’t have their best day of practice together on Wednesday, with Tagovailoa sailing a later pass intended for Wilson high; prompting an interception from rookie safety Jevon Holland. But after Tuesday’s quiet day through the air, getting the spark back on Wednesday was certainly a welcomed sight nonetheless.

Watch: WR Albert Wilson mic’d up for Dolphins practice

Watch: WR Albert Wilson mic’d up for Dolphins practice

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the first week of Miami Dolphins training camp was the reemergence of wide receiver Albert Wilson. Wilson has shown some terrific chemistry with second-year quarterback Tua Tagovailoa; the pair linking up for multiple 50+ yard scoring plays throughout the course of the first four practices of this summer’s camp. That development is a promising one; as the Dolphins went “all-in” on building up a supporting cast for Tagovailoa that will allow him to play with more confidence and quickness to make decisions with the football in 2021.

And the Dolphins apparently wanted to take advantage of Wilson’s hot start by placing him firmly in the spotlight: they strapped Wilson up with a microphone for Saturday’s practice and shared some of the end result on social media over the weekend. You can watch the clip below.

Wilson is sporting a new number this year, a look that is enabled by the NFL’s rule change this season that allows players to branch out with their jersey numbers for a little more flair on the field. And a No. 2 jersey certainly looks the part on the practice field. Wilson was last at his prime for Miami in 2018, when he led the NFL in yards after catch in the first half of the season before a hip injury would sideline him for the rest of the year.

Wilson’s journey back to this point has been a long one. He clearly wasn’t 100% in 2019 and then he chose to opt out of the 2020 season due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. This summer certainly brings a different feel. Here’s hoping that things continue to trend this direction for Wilson; because if they do, Miami’s receiving corps is going to be difficult to contain on a weekly basis.

Watch: Tua Tagovailoa’s top throws from first week of camp

Watch: Tua Tagovailoa’s top throws from first week of camp

Week 1 of the 2021 Miami Dolphins training camp had a much different flavor to it than 2020 for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins are seeing the maturation of their young quarterback before their eyes. And although the ultimate final product for this upcoming season is yet to be determined, Tagovailoa has offered plenty of fireworks through the first week of practices. Next week will bring a new set of challenges via the introduction of the pads; but at the very least Tagovailoa’s accuracy, arm strength and willingness to cut tight window throws should be enough to move the needle for anyone.

The Dolphins have been gracious enough to offer us a look at a number of Tagovailoa highlight throws from camp; which is where we’d like to direct your attention now. Please enjoy all of Tua Tagovailoa’s best throws from the first week of Miami Dolphins training camp 2021:

From Saturday: 

From Friday: 

From Thursday: 

From Wednesday: 

To quote the famous line from the film ‘Gladiator’:

“Are you not entertained?!”

Tagovailoa isn’t looking like the same ‘checkdown Charlie’ thus far in camp. And granted, he’s got the benefit of knowing he’s not going to get hit. And the pads aren’t on yet. But none the less, Tagovailoa showing this level of confidence, accuracy and timing is a major source of hope that he can level up his game to the degree Miami will need of him to be a legitimate playoff contender in 2021.

The week to come will be telling; as will how he bounced back from the first true stinker of a practice we see. But given Tagovailoa’s other successful triumphs over adversity, we have a feeling that a bad practice or a few too many picks isn’t going to mentally break him entering into the 2021 season.

One day at a time, though. And we’ll see the Dolphins back in action on Monday.

Watch: Albert Wilson strikes with another big play at Dolphins camp

Watch: Albert Wilson strikes with another big play at Dolphins camp

It wasn’t that long ago that Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson was considered to be “on the bubble” with the team — there were cap considerations and savings at play and Wilson has been relatively quiet since first arriving with the team and breaking out over the first half of the 2018 season. But it seems as though for many Wilson has been “out of sight and out of mind” — and he’s quickly gone to work in training camp to discard of any doubt of his qualifications for this offense and team in 2021.

Wilson opted out of the 2020 NFL season due to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, but he’s come roaring back with a vengeance in the early portions of 2021 training camp. Wilson has been drawing positive reviews going all the way back to June for minicamp and OTAs for how he’s looked physically — the explosiveness he was missing in 2019 on account of a hip injury appears to be back.

And now, with the team back in training camp, that same explosiveness is showing up on the field. Wilson has become one of Tua Tagovailoa’s favorite targets early on in camp — so much so that he’s logged multiple 50+ yard touchdown receptions through the first two days.

Miami dropped a look at the first big strike on Wednesday; prompting excitement from Dolphins fans on social media. And now they’ve doubled down — because Tagovailoa and Wilson were back at it again on Thursday for another big strike down the field.

Even with WR DeVante Parker on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start training camp and free agent addition Will Fuller tending to a minor injury on Thursday, it has been Wilson producing the highlight plays. If there was any doubt about his status on the roster, consider it put away. There’s plenty of camp left, but it is hard to envision Wilson not rolling this momentum into a roster spot when you consider his speed, ability from the slot, run after catch ability (when healthy) and his experience as an NFL talent.

Perhaps the tide will change when the pads come on. But we’re betting that it won’t.