MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins guard James Daniels did individual on-field drills in the first two days of mandatory minicamp, a positive sign in his return from a torn Achilles.
“I’m right on the progression,” Daniels said, suggesting a full training camp clearance is to come.
“Trying to ramp up,” Daniels said of rehabilitation progress and the looming summer break. “I’ll rehab, work out, spend time with like my wife and my cats.”
Daniels, 27, agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract this offseason.
Daniels was very solid at right guard for the Steelers and Bears in each of the past four seasons.
He and rookie Jonah Savaiinaea, who was also a right guard in college, have both said they are willing to try left guard but will leave the decision to the coaches.
One of the two will land there in training camp.
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Daniels has been mentoring Savaiinaea.
“I think he’s good,” Daniels said. “He really reminds me of one of my old teammates, one of my good friends, Isaac Seumalo. They have very similar movements and stuff. Jonah, he’s always texting me, he’s always texting other players asking for advice. He’s always working after practice, so I’m pretty excited to see his development.”
The Dolphins are relying on Daniels to be healthy, and to deliver a physical punch.
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“You can’t not be physical and run,” Daniels said. “We can’t just toss the ball every play and just circle defenses. It’s not college. So there is a time where we’re gonna have to block defensive line, we’re gonna have to block linebackers every play. And so just being able to block them and then just consistently block them. That’s why I was brought here. It’s something I’m excited for.”
And the Dolphins are relying on veteran linemen to help first-year starters like Savaiinaea and left tackle Patrick Paul. What advice would Daniels provide?
“You’re really never graded on curve,” Daniels said. “So it’s like, it doesn’t matter, Year 10, rookie, you can’t miss a block. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for you.”
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins G James Daniels ramps up activity after Achilles injury
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
