HEADLINES

Ricardo Louis

Dolphins Promote WR Antonio Callaway

November 15th, 2020 at 9:48am CST by Rory Parks

Antonio Callaway is getting another shot. In the wake of Preston Williams‘ trip to IR, the Dolphins are promoting Callaway to their active roster for today’s game against the Chargers, as Adam H. Beasley and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald write.

The ‘Fins signed Callaway to the practice squad in September, even though he still had three games of last season’s 10-game suspension to serve. Shortly thereafter, he was hit with another four-game ban, so he continued to sit on the club’s practice squad suspended list.

Miami’s WR depth was already thin to begin with after Albert Wilson and Allen Hurns opted out of the season, and Williams’ injury has further depleted the club’s cadre of pass catchers. So Callaway, who has a ton of talent but who has struggled with substance abuse issues, will have a prime opportunity to reestablish himself.

He also finds himself in the middle of a playoff race. The 5-3 Dolphins are one of this year’s biggest surprises, and Miami suddenly looks like a postseason contender. The team is hopeful that Callaway, who posted a 43/586/5 line in his rookie season with the Browns in 2018, will provide rookie signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa with a reliable option to complement DeVante Parker.

Unfortunately, Beasley and Jackson report that Williams is likely to miss the remainder of the season with a foot injury, which could lead to an extended audition for Callaway. But the Florida product and Miami native can’t get complacent, as the Dolphins are also working out Ricardo Louis and Andre Patton. Callaway, of course, has much more upside than either player if he stay out of trouble.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/20

September 1st, 2020 at 5:22pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s minor moves:

Detroit Lions

Jacksonville Jaguars

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Waived: K Elliott Fry

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/20

August 9th, 2020 at 9:09am CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of this weekend’s minor moves here:

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

Dolphins Meet With WRs Chester Rogers, Ricardo Louis

August 6th, 2020 at 3:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two members of the Dolphins’ receiving corps (Allen Hurns and Albert Wilson) opted out of the 2020 season. Another (Preston Williams) is not certain to be ready by Week 1.

The Dolphins are picking up the pieces. They are hosting former Colts wideout Chester Rogers and one of their recent cuts, Ricardo Louis, on a visit, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.

A former Browns rotational cog, Louis was a Dolphins cut less than two weeks ago. But Miami’s equation has changed, potentially opening the door for a Louis comeback effort. He has not played in a regular-season game since 2017.

Rogers has delivered more in the way of production, playing in 53 games for Indianapolis from 2016-19. The former UDFA caught 53 passes for 485 yards and two touchdowns in Andrew Luck‘s final season, which featured the Colts making a surprise divisional-round run.

Rogers, however, is coming off a season in which he suffered a knee fracture in December. Both receivers are expected to be given physicals, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald (on Twitter), so Rogers’ examination figures to be critical.

Dolphins Cut Ricardo Louis, Jake Rudock

July 26th, 2020 at 11:15am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins have released wide receiver Ricardo Louis and quarterback Jake Rudock, as first reported by ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The early cuts will help the Dolphins shape the roster to meet the league’s recommended 80-man roster max. 

[RELATED: Dolphins Rookie Ray Lima Retires]

Louis joined the Dolphins in the spring of 2019 but did not play due to a knee injury. Prior to that, he spent three years with the Browns and tallied 45 catches for 562 yards. The Miami native was hoping to reassert himself with his hometown club, but he’ll have to seek work elsewhere.

Rudock also joined the Dolphins last year, but spent the year on the practice squad. The 2016 sixth-round choice of the Lions has just three career appearances to his credit. Even before the release, Rudock was facing long odds of making the active roster. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tua Tagovailoa, and (possibly) Josh Rosen project to serve as the Dolphins’ active QBs to open the season.

AFC East Notes: Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, Gase

July 4th, 2020 at 12:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Prior to being selected by the Patriots in the third round of the 2016 draft, quarterback Jacoby Brissett wanted nothing to do with New England.

“I honestly did not want to be there,” Brissett said on the McCourty twins’ podcast (via Darren Hartwell of NBC Sports Boston). “When I took my visit there — my pre-draft visit — I was like, ‘Hell no. If one team drafts me, it better not be them.’

“And I’ll never forget, (offensive coordinator) Josh (McDaniels) called me on the phone on draft night and I didn’t have his number saved. That’s how bad it was. I didn’t even have his number saved in my phone. I was like, ‘Damn, man.'”

You can’t necessarily blame Brissett for feeling that way. Besides having to play behind one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time in Tom Brady, the rookie QB was also behind former second-rounder Jimmy Garoppolo on the depth chart. Due to suspensions and injuries to his teammates, Brissett ended up seeing time in three games (two starts) during his rookie campaign. The following year, the Patriots shipped Brissett to the Colts in exchange for wideout Phillip Dorsett.

“Honestly, that was my wake-up to the NFL, was being traded and then the next week, you’re out there in a game,” Brissett added. “It was like, ‘We don’t care how long you’ve been here. You’d better know how to play.”

Let’s check out some more notes from the AFC East…

  • Speaking of Patriots quarterbacks, Cam Newton is in New England to complete his physical and finalize his one-year deal, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The reporter notes that the Patriots are confident in the quarterback’s “condition” and aren’t anticipating any issues with the physical. Injuries limited Newton to only a pair of games in 2019, forcing him to settle for a one-year, $1.75MM deal with New England.
  • If the Dolphins are forced to trim their training camp roster, then Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald points to a handful of undrafted rookies who could get cut, including offensive linemen Jonathan Hubbard, Nick Kaltmayer, and Donell Stanley. Jackson also opines that a handful of veterans could be sent packing, a group that includes offensive linemen Adam Pankey and Keaton Sutherland, quarterback Jake Rudock, fullback Chandler Cox, and receivers Ricardo Louis and Mack Hollins.
  • Connor Hughes of The Athletic did a somewhat similar exercise with the Jets, as he explored which players could be traded if New York gets off to a sluggish start. The writer points to wideout Breshad Perriman, linebacker Avery Williamson, running back Le’Veon Bell, defensive end Henry Anderson, and safety Marcus Maye as potential trade candidates.
  • While Hughes believes that Adam Gase has received some underserved criticism during his tenure in New York, the writer also can’t envision the Jets head coach keeping his job if the team finishes with seven or fewer wins. Of course, there are plenty of scenarios where the Jets struggle and Gase does keep his job, especially if quarterback Sam Darnold misses more time in 2020.

Dolphins Sign WR Ricardo Louis To Extension

February 4th, 2020 at 5:10pm CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins re-signed wide receiver Ricardo Louis to a one-year extension to take him through the 2020 season, a source tells Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Louis missed the last two seasons due to neck and knee injuries, but he won’t turn 26 until March and the Dolphins believe in his talent. 

Louis entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Browns back in 2016. As a rookie, he hauled in 18 grabs for 205 yards. In 2017, he took another step forward with 27 catches for 357 yards.

The Dolphins signed Louis as a free agent last April, but he never got the opportunity to suit up for his new team. He’ll get a shot to stick this year, though the competition will be fierce. Already, the Dolphins’ WR room has DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Allen Hurns, Jakeem Grant, Isaiah Ford, Albert Wilson, Gary Jennings, and Mack Hollins. On the plus side, the Dolphins recognize that they’re deeper at wide receiver than most other positions and they’re not planning on using a high pick to add another.

The Dolphins will, however, scope out a quarterback with their No. 5 overall pick. They’ve been linked to Tom Brady quite a bit in recent days, but it doesn’t sound like Tom Terrific will be taking his talents to South Beach.

Dolphins Place WR Ricardo Louis On IR

May 16th, 2019 at 9:29am CST by Zachary Links

The Dolphins have placed wide receiver Ricardo Louis on injured reserve due to a knee injury. Louis is not eligible to return and will not play in 2019. 

The former fourth-round pick missed the entire 2018 campaign with a neck injury, so the latest setback is especially frustrating for the 25-year-old. The Dolphins signed Louis as a free agent in April, but he didn’t get to do much for his new team.

In 2017, Louis enjoyed the best season of his young career with 27 catches for 357 yards with the Browns, a step up from his 18 grabs for 205 yards as a rookie.

Originally, the plan was for Louis to compete for Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s targets with DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, Brice Butler, and others. Now, the Dolphins may look to add another veteran wide receiver to the competition.

 

Dolphins To Sign Ricardo Louis

April 8th, 2019 at 10:02am CST by Zachary Links

Former Browns receiver Ricardo Louis has agreed to terms with the Dolphins on a one-year deal, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Louis, a holdover from the Sashi Brown era, was cut loose earlier this month as a part of the Browns’ spring cleaning. 

The former fourth-round pick missed the entire 2018 campaign with a neck injury and his status going into 2019 is not entirely clear. In 2017, Louis enjoyed the best season of his young career with 27 catches for 357 yards, a step up from his 18 grabs for 205 yards as a rookie.

If healthy, the 25-year-old could profile as a potent deep threat for the Dolphins’ new look offense. He’ll compete for Ryan Fitzpatrick‘s targets with DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills, Albert Wilson, Brice Butler, and others. The Dolphins might not win a ton of games in 2019, but Louis could be primed for a bounce-back season in Miami.

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