Dolphins Stock Report (Day 16): Is Salvon Ahmed in jeopardy of being cut?

Salvon Ahmed had one of the best preseason showcases in decades last year, and that performance in the Miami Dolphins offense this time last year earned him the top backup tailback role in 2023.

Ahmed, who gained 142 rushing yards on 16 carries and caught six passes for 43 yards and one touchdown in the three preseason games he played in 2023, eventually lost the prominent role because of groin injury, which opened the door for De’Von Achane’s emergence.

And the rest his history considering Achane now owns the NFL record for yards per carry (7.8 per attempt) based on his breakout performance in 2023.

This camp Ahmed got off to a slow start because of a foot injury that lingered from last season, but in Thursday’s joint practice against the Washington Commanders the fourth-year veteran showcased the speed that once had teammates and coaches consistently mixing him and Achane up on a daily basis.

Considering Miami’s backfield features six tailbacks — Raheem Mostert, Achane, rookie Jaylen Wright, Jeff Wilson Jr., Ahmed and Chris Brooks — the Dolphins’ talent evaluators will have a tough decision to make come Aug. 27 when the roster must be trimmed to 53 players.

And at this point Ahmed might be on the outside looking in.

The only way to change that could be in these final two preseason games, but he will need to be cleared to play, giving Miami’s coaches a reminder of the talent he possesses.

“It’s been a long summer working my way back. Felt good to be out there,” said Ahmed, who sustained a Lisfranc injury in November and was placed on injured reserve.

Ahmed practiced for a week earlier in camp, and then got shut down and was placed back in a walking boot. He returned to practice this week and got a thorough look against the Commanders.

“I’m a guy that’s going to be there. A great teammate,” said Ahmed, who has handled 163 carries the past four years, gaining 593 yards and scoring five touchdowns for the Dolphins. “I’m someone who is going to do what it takes, anything, to make the team successful.”

TOP PERFORMER

Stock Up

Marcus Maye has been heating up since replacing the injured Jordan Poyer and Jevon Holland as a starting safety. Maye pulled down his second interception of the week during Thursday’s joint practice against the Commanders, showcasing his ability to pull down tipped passes.

Cam Smith had a quiet day covering Washington’s receivers. While passes came his direction on occasion, very few of them were caught, and the 2023 second-round pick was typically in good coverage while working with Miami’s starting defense. Jalen Ramsey and Ethan Bonner have been absent from practice this week.

Stock Down

Miami’s patience has to be running out with Erik Ezukanma. The Dolphins’ 2022 fourth-round pick is getting every opportunity to work his way up the depth chart, but he continues to drop easy passes, like the one from Tua Tagovailoa he let bounce off his chest that would have delivered a touchdown during the red zone period. If Ezukanma doesn’t shine in the next two preseason games the Dolphins might cut bait and move on.

Quinton Bell was the Dolphins’ defender who was making the most noise the first two weeks of training camp, but he has been silent the past week. The edge wasn’t set properly against the Commanders defense on Thursday, and Bell is no longer applying pressure to quarterbacks. Has Bell, a 2023 practice squad member, taken his foot off the gas? Or is he slowed by some injury? He doesn’t look like the same hungry player.

TAKEAWAY FROM THE DAY

The Dolphins’ ever-developing offensive line refused to back down from Washington’s defensive line, which featured a couple of established NFL starters.

The trench play got so heated Liam Eichenberg, who is filling in at center because of a hand injury Aaron Brewer sustained last week, tried to fight Daron Payne at the end of an 11-on-11 snap.

The two had to be separated.

“Ike is always ready. Ike’s a dog,” starting left guard Robert Jones said about Eichenberg. “No matter what day it is, or how you feel he’s going to go out there and give it his all. That’s why it’s fun playing next to him.”

WHAT THEY SAID

“Great talent and great standards,” Dolphins cornerback Kendall Fuller said when asked about the makeup of championship teams, which he was a member of in Kansas City. “We have great talent and we’re building great standards.”