Dolphins RB Salvon Ahmed leaves Monday’s practice injured; WR DeVante Parker off PUP list

Miami Dolphins running back Salvon Ahmed went down with a non-contact lower-extremity injury during Monday’s practice.

Ahmed made a catch along the left side and while trying to evade a tackler, he went to the ground. Trainers attended to him for several minutes while he was down.

The severity of Ahmed’s injury was unknown Monday afternoon following practice.

Ahmed is competing in training camp among a running back group that returns leading rusher and fellow Washington alum Myles Gaskin and added former Los Angeles Rams running back Malcolm Brown in free agency in March.

In 2020, Ahmed started four games while Gaskin dealt with injury and a stint on the reserve/COVID list. He averaged 4.3 yards per carry, rushing for 319 yards on 75 carries and scoring three touchdowns. He added 11 receptions for 61 yards.

Ahmed has been working largely as the Dolphins’ No. 2 running back in training camp. His absence for the latter portion of Monday’s practice meant more reps for Brown, Patrick Laird, rookie seventh-round draft pick Gerrid Doaks and native South Floridian Jordan Scarlett, who played in high school at University School and St. Thomas Aquinas before attending the University of Florida. The team also has fullback Carl Tucker on its training camp roster.

Parker returns

Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker was activated off the physically unable to perform list for Monday’s practice.

Parker started camp on the PUP list with an undisclosed injury. The often-injured but productive wideout missed two games last season with a hamstring injury.

Parker was limited on Monday, seen during the opening stretch and individual drills but then seldom on the field for later portions that included 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills.

All-Pro cornerback Xavien Howard was held out of practice, officially due to a setback with an ankle injury, coach Brian Flores said Monday morning before practice. Howard is also juggling an ongoing contract dispute with the team.

Rookie outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips was off to the side during practice, seen working out on a stationary bike after also being sidelined at Saturday’s practice.

After three tight ends landed on the Dolphins’ reserve/COVID list on Sunday, wide receiver Preston Williams, who was already on PUP list to start camp, was also placed on the COVID list.

With the shortage at tight end, the Dolphins announced the signings of Sal Cannella and Kalif Jackson. Neither has NFL experience with Cannella an Auburn alum and Jackson hailing from Grambling State.

Pads coming on

Flores spoke to what he’s looking for from the team as Tuesday will be the first practice of training camp in pads.

“Good fundamentals, good technique, good pad level, good communication,” Flores said. “Overall, good communication leads to, hopefully, good execution. … Pads, no pads, those are the things I’m looking for. Good huddle, good communication, get aligned, know your assignment, know your responsibility.

“Once the pads come on, then we get to see the techniques, fundamentals we’ve been working on on a day-to-day basis in action, in pads. With protection for the players, we can be a little more aggressive. It’s real football, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Players are looking forward to increasing the physicality of camp after five practices getting re-acclimated without pads.

“I love that. That’s real football to me. It’s kind of what I look forward to, starting back in April,” said tight end Durham Smythe. “I think it’s a big opportunity for this team. We need to be more physical than we have the last two years, establish a really efficient running, so I think this is a big day for us, a big week coming up.”

Added cornerback Nik Needham: “I’m excited for that. It’s been five months, six months. It’s about that time. Enjoy the pads in this heat, see what guys are talking about, and I’m ready to get physical [Tuesday].”