Miami Dolphins unknown RB, Patrick Laird, pushing to make the final 53
By Brian Miller
The Miami Dolphins have some very nice talent at running back and one player, little known Patrick Laird, is making a case for the final 53.
There is a lot of pre-season football left for all of the fringe players on the Miami Dolphins roster and Patrick Laird is no different. With two games left he needs to continue to shine in order to make this team.
When we posted our updated roster predictions after the second preseason game, Patrick Laird did not make the roster. That is going to remain the way it is for now but make no mistake, Laird has the potential and the talent to make the roster and his coaches are seeing it.
Flores on Patrick Laird: "He's a young guy, who plays hard, he's done everything we've asked. He just does everything right. He's had good camp so far. He needs to stay on this path and he'll get a chance."
— Alain Poupart (@PoupartNFL) August 19, 2019
Laird has been impressive through two games so far but he is running with the deeper units. On the surface that would seem a dead end but most of the running backs are running with and against the third and fourth teams.
Last week, Laird rushed for 51 yards on seven carries for a 7.3 yards per carry average. Kenneth Farrow ran three times for 41. Laird’s biggest competition will be Myles Gaskin and Mark Walton who both are doing o.k. Gaskin is a Dolphins draft pick while Walton is a cast-off of the Bengals due to off-field issues. The Dolphins are giving him a shot.
Thursday night, Gaskin ran the ball six times for 17 yards while Walton ran five times for 8. Not overly impressive.
Laird also can catch the football. The undrafted rookie out of California caught two passes last week for 16 yards and the Dolphins only touchdown.
Laird has a good chance to make the roster. He will most likely take the spot of Walton if he does in fact make the team. Miami will go into the season with Kenyan Drake, Kalen Ballage, Myles Gaskin, and that final fourth position is up in the air. There is no guarantee that the Dolphins carry four running backs. Considering that they will also carry a fullback, the unit could be a tight squeeze.
The problem Miami will face is that Laird may not be able to clear waivers if he is released. If that happens they won’t be able to stash him on the practice squad.
The next two games will be important for Laird and he should be a point of focus for fans playing the roster watch game.