With others out, Bonner, Needham trying to make case. And where peers place Tagovailoa

A Dolphins cornerback room that already felt a bit thin became even thinner this week when second-year player Cam Smith sustained a lower body injury that sidelined him part of Sunday and entirely on Monday, with further evaluation required and a timetable not fully clear.

But that injury –- along with Kendall Fuller getting a veteran’s rest day on Monday -- created more opportunity for Ethan Bonner and Nik Needham, who are both trying to secure spots in the cornerback rotation behind Jalen Ramsey and Fuller, and likely, Kader Kohou.

Bonner, who earned playoff snaps against Kansas City, continues to emerge in his first week of camp, making several nice plays on the ball.

“He’s playing great ball,” receiver Jaylen Waddle said. “Bonner has probably the craziest jump from any player from last year. He seems like a totally different player.

“He’s more patient at the line. Maybe it’s just a year under his belt, his patience, using his long arms. He has a lot of confidence out there. I tell EB every day, ‘you’re getting us better.’ And everyone knows he can run.”

That speed became clear to teammates last season, when Tyreek Hill identified him as the second-fastest Dolphin. Bonner, who ran a 4.39 at Stanford’s Pro Day 16 months ago, was timed at 22 miles per hour during training camp last year (on par with Hill) and said he has timed “a little over 21 in the offseason program.

“As a corner, if you are touching 22, it’s probably because you got beat,” Bonner cracked.

Waddle, one of the fastest receivers in the league, said Bonner is “probably top three” on the team in pure speed.

“If you lined us up and all race, I couldn’t tell you who would win,” Bonner said. “I’m pretty confident I would be up there.”

For Bonner, the emphasis has been polishing other aspects of his game.

“I want to improve all around, be more physical, better in press,” said Bonner, who visited Slovakia, Austria and Hungary this offseason. “I played a lot of off coverage last year, didn’t really get a chance to play a lot of press coverage. That’s a big emphasis for me, developing in that area.”

Has the goal shifted from making the team to carving out a role with consistent playing time?

“I want to maximize my potential,” he said. “I think I deserve to be here. At the end of the day, I want to be on the field. I want to play.”

Bonner, who went undrafted out of Stanford, has held his own when matching up with Tyreek Hill. “I don’t take those snaps for granted,” he said. “Best receiver in the league. Those reps are precious.”

Meanwhile, Needham said he’s splitting time between nickel cornerback and safety; he said he’s now equally comfortable at both after spending a lot of time at safety in the offseason program.

After missing a full year with an Achilles’ injury, Needham returned last October and played only 71 snaps in 10 games (12 percent of the snaps) after playing 89, 60, 54 and 78 percent of snaps (in games he was healthy enough to play) during his first four NFL seasons.

“When I came back, there was still a lot of pain in my right Achilles,” he said. “I was trying to break through that and scar tissue. It kind of started messing with my left one too because I was compensating so much. Right now, I feel great, pretty much 100 percent. I love it. Last year, I didn’t trust my foot. I could still feel it. My calf was super small. In my head, it was affecting my game.”

But no longer. And new coordinator Anthony Weaver’s system “exposes my skill set,” Needham said. “I love it…. In this system, we’re able to disguise more.”

THIS AND THAT

Jaelan Phillips, who remains on the physically unable to perform list after his Nov. 24 torn Achilles, is “way farther along than me” at a similar point, Needham said. “He’s doing great. He’s a freak. He’s going to be a force to be reckoned with this year. He will bounce back great.”

▪ Tua Tagovailoa placed 36th on the NFL’s top 100 list, as voted on by players. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow came in 39th and Packers QB Jordan Love 34th. The top 30 finishers will be announced in the days ahead.

It’s important to note that players were told to rank players keeping in mind performance for last season. Tagovailoa led the league in passing yardage last season, while Burrow played in only 10 games due to injury.

“I’m just happy for him,” Waddle said of Tagovailoa’s new contract, one which will extend a relationship that began as Alabama teammates in 2018.

“Long time coming,” tight end Durham Smythe said of the Tagovailoa contract. “I’m proud of him. He’s the right guy to lead this organization.”

▪ Waddle, on the season outlook: “You look at our roster; you can stack us up against anyone in the league.” He mentioned “staying consistent” and healthy as what’s needed for playoff success. But Waddle said he expects Braxton Berrios “to handle business back there,” as Berrios did last season.

▪ Waddle said he and Hill had a brief discussion with Mike McDaniel early in camp about the possibility of them being used as returners more in light of new NFL rules that could lead to more explosive returns.