What Dolphins’ first depth chart reveals. And McDaniel updates Ramsey status, more

The Dolphins did something outside the box with their offensive line last March when they shifted career guard Connor WIlliams to center.

Experimenting with Isaiah Wynn at guard isn’t quite so radical, because he did play the position in college at Georgia. But it is somewhat notable, because Wynn hasn’t played guard in a game in seven years and because he spent the first four years of his NFL career playing tackle for the Patriots.

So why is Wynn now spending a lot of time at guard and listed on the depth chart at guard?

“He’s listed there because he does play that position, but there are like three other positions he’s playing,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “We have more competition at a lot of spots. We are giving guys the opportunity and letting them decide where they stand. If someone is a guard, that doesn’t mean they’re not getting snaps at tackle.”

McDaniel cracked “preseason depth charts are my nemesis” and cautioned not to read much into them.

Though the Dolphins didn’t say this, having Wynn focus on guard, at least early in camp, suggests they have faith in Austin Jackson as their starting right tackle but want to give Liam Eichenberg competition at left guard.

Wynn could have competed with either for a starting job, but the Dolphins appear inclined to have Wynn compete with Eichenberg.

The Dolphins list Kendall Lamm as the No. 2 left tackle behind Terron Armstead and Cedric Ogbuehi as the No. 2 right tackle behind Jackson. Dan Feeney is the No. 2 center behind Williams and Rob Jones the No. 2 right guard behind Robert Hunt.

Jones, Feeney and Lester Cotton (the No. 3 right guard) all have outside chances of winning the left guard job, but this seems to be an Eichenberg-Wynn competition.

Other notes from the depth chart:

▪ Mike White is listed as the No. 2 quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa, leaving Skylar Thompson third.

▪ In a mild surprise, River Cracraft and Cedrick Wilson Jr. are listed as the second-team receivers behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.

Braxton Berrios and Robbie Chosen are on the third team, and Erik Ezukanma and Braylon Sanders on the fourth team.

▪ Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. are both listed as starting running backs, with Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed on the second team and rookie De’Von Achane on the third team.

▪ The tight ends, in order, are Durham Smythe, Tyler Kroft, Eric Saubert, injured Tanner Conner, rookie sixth-rounder Elijah Campbell and rookie Julian Hill.

▪ Josiah Bronson, Brandon Pili and Emmanuel Ogbah are listed as the backup defensive linemen behind Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis and Zach Sieler.

▪ Channing Tindall and Duke Riley are the second-team inside linebackers, behind Jerome Baker and David Long Jr.

▪ Malik Reed and Andrew Van Ginkel are the second-team outside linebackers, behind Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. On the third team on the edge are Mitchell Agude and Cam Goode.

▪ Jalen Ramsey is listed as one starting cornerback, despite his injury. In order, behind him: Kader Kohou, Justin Bethel, injured Keion Crossen, Eli Apple.

Xavien Howard is the other starter, naturally. Behind him, in order are Nik Needham (who is on the PUP list with an Achilles injury), Noah Igbinoghene, Cam Smith and Tino Ellis.

▪ Brandon Jones is listed as the starting safety alongside Jevon Holland, with Elijah Campbell and DeShon Elliott listed as the second-team safeties, and Verone McKinley III and Trill Williams listed as the third safeties.

THIS AND THAT

Even a week after knee surgery, Ramsey was not wearing crutches last week. He could be back on the field by November.

“If I say ‘ahead of schedule’ to our head trainer, he might slap me,” McDaniel said. “He doesn’t believe in that. He’s doing well at this juncture. I love where Jalen is at. He’s attacking everything. How many other guys do you see with a timetable such as his having ownership of the team and his guys more than Jalen Ramsey? It speaks to the type of individual, type of leader we have on the team.”

▪ McDaniel said he’s not sure which starters will play on Friday against Atlanta at Hard Rock Stadium and which players would not. But he said some starters will play and some won’t. McDaniel said there’s no decision on whether Tagovailoa plays Friday.

▪ McDaniel told his players that they cannot allow the emotions to get the best of them in Tuesday and Wednesday joint practices with the Falcons. He doesn’t want to see fights. “You have to put the team first,” he said.

▪ McDaniel said Brandon Jones, who is doing some practice work in his return from October ACL surgery, “is probably ready for a little more than we gave him last week. No setbacks last week. Hoping to take another step forward this week.”

▪ McDaniel explained how Wilkins, who likes trash-talking, has changed since McDaniel arrived a year and a half ago:

“At the beginning, it was more concerted [expletive] talk and more about being intense. Where he was starting some fights my first week [on the job], now he is setting energy. He has learned how to channel. I said you can use this energy better. He did. Now when he makes a play, it makes other people better. It’s really a cool progression to watch.”

▪ The Dolphins held out Armstead from Tuesday’s joint practice, but McDaniel said he will participate Wednesday. Armstead had offseason knee surgery. “What we need to see from Armstead is the healthiest version of himself,” McDaniel said.