Dolphins playoff starter gets another chance. And coaches assess Tagovailoa, others

A six-pack of Dolphins notes on a Thursday:

▪ Last January in Buffalo, Lester Cotton became arguably the most obscure player to start a 21st century Dolphins playoff game.

Now he’s back in an important role, replacing Isaiah Wynn as the team’s expected starting left guard.

Wynn, who has a quadriceps injury, is on injured reserve and might miss the rest of the season; coach Mike McDaniel said he has a long recovery ahead.

Cotton has played 224 guard snaps in NFL regular season or playoff games.

Of those 224, 95 came as a member of the Raiders and he permitted just six pressures and no sacks on 65 pass blocking snaps as a Raider, while grading out poorly as a run blocker, per PFF.

But those snaps were at right guard; for the Dolphins, Cotton is now at left guard.

His pass-blocking for the Dolphins hasn’t been particularly good, albeit also in a small sample size.

Filling in for Liam Eichenberg at left guard in the playoff loss at Buffalo in January, Cotton permitted one sack (of Skylar Thompson) and four pressures in 53 pass blocking snaps.

After replacing Wynn against Philadelphia, Cotton yielded no sacks but four pressures and a quarterback hit in 33 pass blocking chances.

So he needs to play better than he did in January in Buffalo and last Sunday in Philadelphia.

If not, Eichenberg or Robert Jones could challenge him for playing time at left guard.

For now, Eichenberg has been working only at center, as Connor Williams remains limited by a groin injury that has sidelined him three of the past four games. Eichenberg began last season as the starting left guard before injuries sidelined him for most of the final 2 1/2 months.

Jones missed Wednesday’s practice for personal reasons.

Cotton was a highly-rated recruit, ranked 59th in the 2015 class by 247 Sports. He played four years at Alabama -- moving to left guard full time in his final season -- but went undrafted.

The Raiders signed and cut and then signed him multiple times before permanently parting ways last Dec. 15. Miami signed him two weeks later.

▪ Couple things from defensive coordinator Vic Fangio: He isn’t sure if Jalen Ramsey will play Sunday; Kader Kohou would be the nickel corner when Ramsey and Xavien Howard play...

Brandon Jones would start opposite former University of Texas teammate DeShon Elliott if Jevon Holland (concussion protocol) isn’t available Sunday...

Though Channing Tindall is stuck behind four inside linebackers on the depth chart, Fangio said: “He’s doing a good job on special teams. Still think he’s a good player with good potential for the future.”...

Cornerback Cam Smith sustained a foot injury in practice on Wednesday and is sidelined for now.

▪ Receiver Tyreek Hill said on his podcast that his body feels good, but he missed Wednesday’s practice with a hip injury. Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith and receiver Jaylen Waddle declined to say if Hill would be available Sunday.

Braxton Berrios is listed by the team as Hill’s backup. But Berrios, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Chase Claypool and Robbie Chosen all could play more if Hill is sidelined.

Claypool, acquired by the Dolphins from Chicago a few weeks ago, is doing “great,” Smith said. “His level of knowledge of football and love of football.. he’s been great so far. Really enjoy him around.”

▪ Frank Smith said “game flow” -- and not health -- was the reason Jeff Wilson Jr. had only seven snaps and no rushing attempts in his first game back after missing the first six with a rib and finger injury.

▪ Pro Football Focus ranks David Long Jr. the second best run-stopping linebacker in football, behind only Bobby Wagner.

“He’s a physical guy, fun guy to coach,” linebackers coach Anthony Campanile said. “He loves contact. He brings a really good energy, does a great job in the run game of knowing where he’s supposed to be.”

▪ Quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell, in his monthly media session, was asked about Tua Tagovailoa’s increase in interceptions-per-pass (he has six INTs). “You want to make sure you’re not making the same mistakes over and over. That’s not the case” with him.

One thing that has impressed Bevell with Tagovailoa is “how he’s playing on time and his feet. Watch how he’s playing. It’s impressive. Doing it at a very high level. He has elite vision. He sees all the guys on the field. He can tell you what most of the guys have done on a particular play” after he comes off the field.

Tagovailoa is usually very accurate with his first read, and if Hill is the first read, he’s usually getting open. So what would Bevell emphasize to Tagovailoa if Hill cannot play?

“No change,” Bevell said. “One of the things Tua has done the best at is last year because it was a new offense, there were a lot of times No. 1 [option] was open. [Opponents] see how you do things. You have to make sure you have mastered the whole play and the full progression.

“That’s something Tua has really taken to this year and adapted really well. There have been times No. 1 is not open. He has been able to progress and it has been pretty seamless.”