Is It Too Little, Too Late For Erik Ezukanma?
Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Erik Ezukanma has been impressive as of late. After a slow start to training camp, the third-year wideout has been stacking days at practice, and now his positive momentum is carrying over into joint practices against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Early on in Wednesday’s practice at AdventHealth Training Center in Tampa, Ezukanma stood out on 1-on-1s. As practice progressed, the 2022 fourth-rounder from Texas Tech was heavily involved in the passing game. He caught a pass over the middle from Tua Tagovailoa and a deep pass from Skylar Thompson.
Erik Ezukanma flips the field on the end around. pic.twitter.com/f2izdgW99f
— FinCuts (@FinCuts) August 18, 2024
Prior to the Dolphins’ joint practices with the Buccaneers, head coach Mike McDaniel took note of Ezukanma’s recent performances and his journey so far. “As coaches, we’re trying to maximize the talent of every player in their recognized dream,” McDaniel said last Thursday. “Erik had a great day yesterday. I think he was the fastest GPS player. I think guys are excited to be a part of his journey and absolutely, we are pouring into him to see what can come out.”
That journey has been a difficult one up to this point. He has hardly seen the field in his first two seasons in Miami. Ezukanma was buried on the depth chart last year and he hasn’t really shown all that much in the limited amount of snaps he’s gotten. Before the start of training camp, he was in danger of being cut. Does Ezukanma’s recent string of impressive performances change his future with the Dolphins, or is it too little, too late for Erik Ezukanma?
Mike White drops it in the bucket to Erik Ezukanma for 34 yards!
📱: Stream #WASvsMIA on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/r2Tbd2idUH
— NFL (@NFL) August 18, 2024
The third-year wide receiver made a strong case to stay on the Dolphins roster during last week’s game against the Washington Commanders. Erik Ezukanma led the way for the Dolphins receivers in Miami’s 13-6 win over the Commanders, reeling in five catches on seven targets for 65 yards, which included a 35-yard pass from quarterback Mike White. He also showed off his ability to run after the catch on an end-around where he reversed field, turning a play that should’ve resulted in a loss of yardage into a positive gain.
For further context, Ezukanma ended up being PFF’s sixth-highest-graded player on the Dolphins offense in Week 2 of the preseason. Dolphins wide receivers coach Wes Welker and the Miami coaching staff have always been high on his potential. “Erik is a freak,” Welker said in August 2023. “I mean, he’s got a lot of ability, and you see the flashes everywhere. He’s definitely doing some great things out there. It’s just the consistency of everything that we’re talking about and being able to do it exactly how we’re saying and continuing to work on that.”
The biggest hurdle for Ezukanma has always been his nagging injuries, highlighted by a neck injury that limited him last season. It seems like whenever there’s a positive development for him, he immediately gets hurt. Such was the case during Wednesday’s joint practice with the Bucs, when he was evaluated by trainers after suffering an apparent lower-body injury. He just can’t shake the injury bug.
But Ezukanma isn’t just fighting his injury history. The Dolphins selected two wide receivers in this year’s draft. Seventh-rounder Tahj Washington is on injured reserve with a potential season-ending injury, so that helps Ezukanma’s case. However, Miami is also high on fifth-rounder Malik Washington.
While the Palm Beach Post’s recent 53-man roster projection had Erik Ezukanma making the roster over Malik Washington, he isn’t exactly a lock to make the team. That roster projection had Miami keeping six receivers like they did last year, but the Dolphins bolstered depth at running back and tight end, which could lead to the team keeping only five wideouts instead.
Needless to say, Ezukanma is still firmly on the Dolphins roster bubble. While strong performances in joint practices and last week’s preseason game are a good start, he will need to continue his upward trajectory heading into the final week of the preseason. The upcoming matchup with the Bucs is the most important game of Ezukanma’s career and could be the deciding factor that determines whether or not he survives cutdown day in South Beach.
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