Tag: Mohamed Kamara

Dolphins announce 6 inactives for Week 13 vs. Packers

Dolphins rookies Mohamed Kamara and Patrick McMorris are both in the lineup Thursday against the Packers.

The Miami Dolphins will have left tackle Terron Armstead in the lineup Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.

While the team ruled out three defensive players — linebacker Tyus Bowser, cornerback Kendall Fuller, and linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. — Armstead was the only player for Miami who was listed as questionable for the Thanksgiving game. The five-time Pro Bowl left tackle was also listed as questionable for Weeks 11 and 12, but also played in those two games.

The Dolphins also have fifth-round and sixth-round rookies Mohamed Kamara and Patrick McMorris in the lineup. Kamara has only appeared in two prior games, but is playing with Bowser out of action. McMorris was activated from the injured reserve earlier this week and will make his NFL debut Thursday.

With kickoff 90 minutes away, here are the players ruled out by each team:

Dolphins inactives

  • CB Ethan Bonner
  • CB Kendall Fuller
  • QB Tyler Huntley (3rd QB)
  • TE Jack Stoll
  • WR Dee Eskridge
  • LB Anthony Walker Jr.

Packers inactives

  • CB Jaire Alexander
  • LB Edgerrin Cooper
  • OL Jacob Monk
  • WR Romeo Doubs

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Dolphins ready to ‘live through rookie mistakes’ from Mohamed Kamara

Mohamed Kamara made his NFL debut last week and Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is ready to see more of the rookie.

Mohamed Kamara made his NFL debut in the Miami Dolphins’ 16-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, playing 16 defensive snaps in the Week 7 game.

Now Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is ready to see more of the fifth-round rookie.

“Mo is one of those guys who’s putting in the work,” Weaver told reporters Thursday. “He’s a rookie, so sometimes when you don’t have the consistency at the trajectory you’d like, you get a little bit frustrated but it’s not through lack of effort. The one thing we talked about before, he is a physical presence out there.

“He wants to do right every time he’s out there and he’s going to play more just because we see his talent. We know he has playmaking potential and we’re going to have to live through some of those rookie mistakes.”

Kamara, 25, didn’t look out of place during his limited play time against the Colts. The rookie generated two pressures on only seven pass rush snaps, even getting a hit on Anthony Richardson, and he recorded a tackle too.

His 69.4 grade from Pro Football Focus was fifth best on the Dolphins defense among players who were on the field for more than 10 snaps, and nearly 15 points better than the 54.5 grade that first-round rookie Chop Robinson received.

With Jaelan Phillips lost for the year due to a knee injury and Bradley Chubb still recovering from the ACL tear that ended his 2023, the Dolphins have struggled to generate much pressure off the edge in 2024. That leaves a lot of room for Kamara to shine as he works his way into the lineup.

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Anthony Weaver: Dolphins veteran is ‘what you hope Mohamed Kamara grows into’

Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver says the team has the perfect role model for fifth-round rookie Mohamed Kamara.

Miami Dolphins fifth-round rookie Mohamed Kamara still hasn’t made his NFL debut. While he’s on the 53-man roster, the outside linebacker was a healthy scratch in the first four weeks as the team patiently develops the former Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

The hope, according to Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, is that they can get Kamara to become a lot like current starting outside linebacker Emmanuel Ogbah.

“He’s essentially what you hope Mohamed [Kamara] grows into,” Weaver told reporters Thursday. “He is an enforcer and you saw it multiple times in that game. He sets a firm edge. He can intimidate you with just his sheer size and will and his ability to stick his face in the fan. And then as a rusher, he’s not just a power guy, there’s a little finesse aspect and great hand usage to it, too.

“To me, he’s the perfect guy for Mohamed to watch and kind of see what he can take from him and then add to his game.”

Ogbah, 30, came into the league with higher expectations than Kamara as the No. 32 overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. But it took time for him to find his footing in the league. After 12.5 sacks in three years with the Cleveland Browns, Ogbah was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for backup safety Eric Murray.

It wasn’t until 2020 that Ogbah broke out with back-to-back seasons with nine sacks as a member of the Dolphins.

Kamara may be a similar late bloomer, but Weaver has high hopes for the rookie.

“He’s a guy that’s rugged, tough,” Weaver said of Kamara. “You talk about he should be a firm edge setter, be able to reduce him to a three technique and rush him there if need be, but he needs to be like your topflight security of the world. He needs to be the protector and be the enforcer on the field, and I’ve kind of tasked him with that since he’s been here.”

With Jaelan Phillips done for the year with a knee injury, it may be time for Kamara to see his first NFL snaps. However, the arrival of veteran Tyus Bowser could mean play time for Kamara remains scarce. In the meantime, he can spend the next few months continuing to learn in hopes of eventually becoming the Dolphins’ next Ogbah.

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Emmanuel Ogbah has ‘unfinished business’ with Dolphins

Emmanuel Ogbah says he chose to rejoin the Dolphins over another option, because he has more to do in Miami.

When Emmanuel Ogbah was released by the Miami Dolphins in February, he didn’t think his time with the team was completely over. He just didn’t think the reunion would come so soon.

“I honestly wouldn’t have believed it, but I always knew I was going to be back here eventually,” Ogbah told reporters Thursday. “I have unfinished business here, so that’s what I’m ready to take care of here.”

Ogbah, 30, first joined the Dolphins in 2020 on a two-year deal and signed a four-year extension with the team in 2022. But following the departure of Brian Flores and the emergence of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, Ogbah’s role diminished and he was released by Miami in February with two years left on his deal.

For five months, Ogbah sat on the free agency market until the surprising retirement of Shaquil Barrett opened up a spot on the Dolphins’ roster.

“I had all the time in the world to get ready, mentally prepare, physically prepare, just to get ready for this season,” Ogbah said. I didn’t know where I was going to be, but I’m just happy to be here.

“It came down to two teams, and I picked Miami because I feel like unfinished business here, so that’s why I’m excited to be back.”

The Dolphins could use early results from Ogbah. Both Chubb and Phillips are on the PUP list as they continue to recover from injuries that ended their respective 2023 campaigns. Miami also drafted Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara, but expecting rookie pass rushers to be productive is a lot to ask.

Ogbah’s contributions could be crucial while Chubb and Phillips get back up to speed. And he has plenty of motivation to prove his reunion with the Dolphins is a worthwhile one.

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Could Mohamed Kamara be the Dolphins’ next fifth-round steal?

The Dolphins found linebackers Bryan Cox, Zach Thomas, and Andrew Van Ginkel in the fifth round. Will Mohamed Kamara be their next steal?

The fifth-round of the NFL draft has historically proven to be a good spot for the Miami Dolphins to find linebackers.

There was Bryan Cox, a three-time Pro Bowler who was selected No. 113 overall in 1991. Five years later, the Dolphins one-upped themselves by finding Hall of Famer Zach Thomas at No. 154 overall. More recently, Miami found Andrew Van Ginkel at No. 151 overall in 2019.

The Dolphins will hope Mohamed Kamara can follow in those footsteps.

Miami used the No. 21 overall pick in the first-round to take Penn State’s Chop Robinson, but double-downed at the position by adding the Colorado State alum in Day 3.

Kamara, who enters the NFL following a 13-sack season for Colorado State, has the chance to learn from free agent addition Shaq Barrett, another CSU alum with a lot of pass rushing experience.

Kamara totaled 30.5 sacks in his five collegiate seasons and 21.5 over the last two, as well as 45.5 career tackles for loss. All those plays in the backfield earned him Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in his last season.

While a tad undersized by NFL standards at 6’1, 248 pounds, he makes up for it with strength, speed, and ferocity. All those elements make for fan-favorite potential. He’s a project to refine, but Kamara has a solid foundation for new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to build on.

Kamara’s 4.57 40-yard dash time was third among edge rushers at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, behind only Robinson (4.48) and another first-rounder, Dallas Turner (4.46).

All that’s left for Kamara is the production to justify his selection and solidify his spot on the next rung of fifth-round linebackers to succeed for the Dolphins. That’s easier said than done.

Miami already has a terrific duo of edge rushers in Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. However, both are rehabbing injuries and will be returning for the Dolphins in 2024, but are beginning training camp on the PUP list. The newly added rookie duo of Robinson and Kamara adds to the depth.

When Phillips and Chubb both fully return, the Dolphins stand to have Robinson, Barrett, and Kamara in rotational roles. That means the rookies have a chance to make an early impact.

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Dolphins sign Jaylen Wright, 4 other draft picks

The Dolphins got most of their 2024 NFL draft class officially under contract Tuesday.

The Miami Dolphins announced contracts for five of their seven 2024 NFL draft picks Tuesday morning.

Running back Jaylen Wright, pass rusher Mohamed Kamara, wide receiver Malik Washington, safety Patrick McMorris, and wide receiver Tahj Washington are all under contract now. Only first-round pick Chop Robinson and second-rounder Patrick Paul remain unsigned.

The Dolphins’ decision to wait until June to begin signing its 2024 draft class wasn’t surprising as the team had limited salary cap space until Saturday when Xavien Howard officially came off the team’s books. With an additional $18.5 million at its disposal, Miami likely won’t wait long to get Robinson and Paul under contract too.

All five players signed Tuesday were taken on the third day of the 2024 NFL draft. Wright was selected first of the group with a fourth-round pick that was acquired in a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Dolphins’ 2024 offseason program will wrap up this week with a three-day mandatory minicamp that runs from Tuesday to Thursday.

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Mohamed Kamara turning draft slight into fuel: ‘I’m fired up’

Mohamed Kamara was “very, very angry” about sliding to the fifth round. Now he’s channeling that energy at minicamp.

Miami Dolphins rookie edge rusher Mohamed Kamara was “very, very angry” when he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Two weeks later, that feeling hasn’t worn off.

Kamara is still fueled by his No. 158 overall draft position, but he’s still happy to be given the opportunity to play professional football.

“I have to be humble about it, because — shoot — I’m here,” Kamara told reporters Friday. “I’m still glad to be here. I’m still rocking and rolling out. I’m fired up. Even coach had to tell me to calm down today when we were in walkthrough.”

While Kamara didn’t hear many concerns about his game, he ventured a guess at what caused his slide in the draft.

“I tried to keep the negative out of my head,” Kamara said. “Probably I’m short or whatever, but besides that, it was not a lot of concerns.”

Kamara may measure in at 6’1, but he managed plenty of college production anyway. He had 13 sacks and 17 tackles for loss last season at Colorado State, and had 29.5 sacks and 45.5 tackles for loss during his five-year career with the Rams.

In Kamara’s eyes, he has the production to succeed and is also able to use his height to his advantage.

“Getting 13.5 sacks — production speaks for itself,” he said. “I’m low to the ground, so I’m going to always use that. I’m quicker, too. Some of those guys have a longer length and longer strides and stuff like that. I’m quick and will put my hands on you fast.”

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WATCH: Mohamed Kamara learns he’s joining the Dolphins

“It’s a dream come true.”

Mohamed Kamara was more than a little annoyed that 157 players were picked before him in the 2024 NFL draft. So it was a relief when the Miami Dolphins ended his wait and took the edge rusher in the fifth round.

On Saturday, the Dolphins released a video of their phone call with Kamara telling him he would be the fourth member of their rookie class.

“It’s a dream come true,” Kamara can be heard saying on the other line in a conversation with general manager Chris Grier.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel didn’t hide his excitement about the pick in his conversation with Kamara.

“I had a great time watching probably the most physical, dynamic edge setter from a place near and dear to me,” McDaniel told Kamara.

McDaniel was born and raised in Aurora, Colo., a little over an hour drive from Colorado State University where Kamara earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2023.

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Mohamed Kamara is ‘very, very angry’ he was a 5th round pick

It’s safe to say new Dolphins pass rusher Mohamed Kamara is entering the NFL with a chip on his shoulder.

It’s safe to say new Miami Dolphins pass rusher Mohamed Kamara is entering the NFL with something to prove.

“I’m very excited, but I also am very, very angry going the round that I did,” Kamara told reporters Saturday. “That’s just my personality. I knew I could’ve went higher and I wanted to go higher, but the lovely team of Miami picked me up and I’m going to give them that burning desire. I have a chip on my shoulder, so it just got even greater.”

Kamara couldn’t have done much more on the football field at Colorado State. In his last three seasons with the Rams, the pass rusher racked up 29 sacks and 42.5 tackles for loss. In 2023, he was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

But he had to wait until the fifth round in the 2024 NFL draft to hear his name called with the No. 158 overall selection.

The likely explanation for the long wait is his 6’1 stature, less much than ideal for an NFL pass rusher.

“If you want to call me short, watch out,” Kamara said. “If you didn’t believe in me, watch out. That’s just the type of person I am, that’s what keeps me going every day. I’m never going to be satisfied.”

In Miami, Kamara will join a crowded group of pass rushers with veterans Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Shaquil Barrett, as well as 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson. Still, the Colorado State alum is confident he’ll see enough snaps to make the rest of the NFL regret passing on him.

“All 31 other teams, look out because the way I’m about to play against these guys, you should’ve picked me before,” Kamara said. “That’s just the type of person I am so respect to those guys and I’m grateful for Miami for picking me up, but I know what I’m going to bring to the field and every other team has to see me.”

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WATCH: Highlights of Dolphins 5th-round draft pick Mohamed Kamara

Dolphins fifth-round pick Mohamed Kamara was pretty much unblockable during his time at Colorado State.

The Colorado State Rams were not very good the last couple years, finishing 3-9 in 2022 and improving to just 5-7 in 2023. But new Miami Dolphins pass rusher Mohamed Kamara did all he could do to make the team relevant.

Despite being the focal point for most opponents facing CSU, Kamara was unblockable for much of his collegiate career.

In his final season with the Rams, he racked up 13 sacks and 17 tackles for loss. That was after finishing the 2022 season with 16 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

He earned Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors for his efforts last season, but still slipped to the fifth round where the Dolphins scooped him up at No. 158 overall.

While the question will be whether he can continue to be a productive player in the NFL, despite being 6’1, his collegiate highlight tape offers a glimpse at the defensive playmaking ability that enticed the Dolphins.

Here’s a look at the havoc Kamara wreaked during the 2023 season:

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