Tuesday 6 p.m. update:
After on-and-off discussions for two weeks, the Dolphins on Tuesday signed former Oregon star running back LaMichael James to their practice squad.
James, 5-9, requested and received his release from the 49ers after the season opener because he wanted to find a team that would give him a bigger role. With the 49ers, he was third on the depth chart behind Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde.
He hopes he can parlay a practice squad job with the Dolphins into a meaningful role on a 53-man roster, here or elsewhere.
In 15 games over two-plus seasons for the 49ers, James has averaged 4.5 yards per rush on 41 carries and has five receptions for 45 yards.
He also has career averages of 28.4 yards on 26 kickoff returns and a 10.9 average on 23 punt returns. He ranked 10th in the league in punt return average last season.
James finished third in Heisman Trophy ballotting in 2010 and left Oregon ranked 14th in NCAA history in rushing yardage with 5082 yards. The 49ers drafted him 61st overall in 2012.
James gives the Dolphins six running backs under contract. The other five --- Knowshon Moreno (expected to be out a couple more weeks with an elbow injury), Lamar Miller, Daniel Thomas, Orleans Darkwa and Damian Williams --- are on the 53-man roster.
### Veteran linebacker Desmond Bishop, who has 27 starts in six NFL seasons (mostly for Green Bay) worked out for Miami today. Arizona released him Sept. 6.
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A Tuesday afternoon Dolphins and Hurricanes update:
Not only did the Dolphins wake up Tuesday tied for first in the AFC East, but reinforcements are on the way.
Safety Reshad Jones returned from a four-game suspension Tuesday and center Mike Pouncey has said in the past week that he expects to play in Miami’s next game on Oct. 12 against Green Bay. Linebacker Koa Misi (ankle) and right guard Shelley Smith (knee sprain) also practiced Tuesday and look close to returning. Branden Albert (shoulder) said he’s fine and will play against the Packers.
There are still questions about when Knowshon Moreno and Randy Starks will return from elbow and back issues, respectively. Neither practiced Tuesday but the Dolphins remain hopeful Moreno can return at some point this month --- if not for Green Bay, then potentially Chicago. And the running game is thriving without him.
For Jones, his return Tuesday felt “like the first day of school when you’re in junior high, being back with all my friends. [Green Bay] will be a good test to come back and make some impact plays.”
Joe Philbin said Jones returned in “good” shape and “moved around pretty well.”
That wasn’t a coincidence. Jones said he approached the past four weeks “like I was playing. I’ve been working with my trainer in Miami, studying the playbook. I’m in a game shape, lost a couple pounds. I’ve been working my butt off. I’m in midseason form.”
Watching the four Dolphins games on TV was frustrating knowing “you can’t help them. It’s tough for me watching my boys. [The four weeks] went by slowly. It hurts not being out there. I’m happy I’m back now.”
Last season, Jones didn’t play up to the expectations created by the four-year, $30 million contract that Jeff Ireland gave him after the 2012 season. But Jones quibbles with the notion that his play feel off dramatically last season. “I had 94 tackles in 2012, 107 in 2013,” he said.
But here are two big differences: He had four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 2012, just one pick and no forced fumbles last season.
And there’s there: In 2012, only 19 of 39 passes thrown with Jones in coverage were caught for 247 yards, with quarterbacks having a 38.0 passer rating in his coverage area, which ranked third among 88 safeties, according to Pro Football Focus. Last season, those numbers were poor: 37 for 45 for 474 yards and a 123.5 opposing passer rating, 13th-worst among 86 safeties.
Jones vowed: “I’m going to be running around there with my hair on fire. That’s what I do. I’m a ball-hawking safety who makes plays. That’s what they’re looking for me to do and that’s what I’m going to do.”
He figures to resume starting Oct. 12, but Philbin typically was non-committal about that and Jones said: “It’s not about me. I’m happy to be back whatever role I have.”
As for Pouncey, he “looked good today,” Philbin said. “He’s moving around well.”
Samson Satele has filled in admirably and Philbin did not rule out giving him work at guard, a position he has never played in an NFL game. But Satele said the Dolphins haven’t broached the issue. “I’m willing to do whatever coach wants,” Satele said.
Satele (leg injury) was on a bike on the sideline during practice but said he will be able to play Oct. 12.
### The Dolphins signed undrafted Utah rookie tight end Jake Murphy to the practice squad and cut defensive back Rod Sweeting. Murphy, who spent training camp with the Raiders, is the son of former Braves star Dale Murphy and the brother of former Dolphins draft pick Shawn Murphy.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins have re-engaged former Oregon star running back LaMichael James about potentially joining their practice squad. The sides discussed it two weeks ago and conversations are ongoing this afternoon, according to sources.
Miami also signed undrafted Georgia Tech rookie defensive end Emmanuel Dieke to the practice squad. He spent training camp with the Giants.
GOLDEN'S THOUGHT
Some snippets from Al Golden’s news conference today:
## He said UM is moving on this week without injured right tackles Taylor Gadbois and Kc McDermott.
### Is he surprised how good Brad Kaaya has been? “I'm surprised from the standpoint of May, June and July. But after watching him in August, no we're not surprised. Pleased with his progress, the fact he protected the football last week - it's going to be critical this game. He accepted a lot of coaching last week, he really did. He did what he had to do for us to win. We left a couple of plays out there. Hopefully he'll continue to make progress, stay humble, stay hungry, stay focused.”
### Golden has told James Coley to make sure “the ball doesn’t stick,” that a lot of people are involved: “It's important. It's something I've always talked about, distribution of the football. It makes it hard for [defenses] to defend. It's not just an explosive route or underneath. There's a lot of different guys touching the ball in a lot of different areas of the field. So he's going through his progressions and we're protecting him better. That's going to be a challenge this week against zone pressure and these two inside guys. We have to let him go through his progression, continue to distribute the football. But a lot of guys are touching the ball, which is great”.
### On Trayone Gray: “He's continuing to make progress with special teams. His conditioning is starting to improve. He's starting to get into a little bit of a groove. We have to keep pushing him along.”
### On why UM’s newcomers are making an impact: “I think our recruiting was good last year. Chad Thomas, Anthony Moten, Darrion Owens, Courtel Jenkins, Calvin Heurtelou, KC, Trevor Darling, Nick Linder, Chris Herndon, all of those guys are playing for us, Joe Yearby, Trayone Gray, Braxton Berrios, Brad. We're playing a lot of guys. We talked about it [with reporters] that if a lot of freshmen are playing it's because they're good. Those guys are going to make us better. But each instance is different. Those guys are competitors, want to play, make a difference.”
### Golden said Tyriq McCord’s performance against Duke “was his best game I thought last week. I really did. A very mature game. And it's not easy to play defensive end against these teams. These read option teams, the quarterback pulls it and he's going for 20. You have to be disciplined, pin the hips, stay square. Then there are certain downs he has to go rush the quarterback. I thought he prepared better last week than he ever has. I think his strength is up. His conditioning is the best it's been in his career.”
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[11:15 p.m. Tuesday: I have a new Tuesday night post up with more Dolphins and UM news, plus Marlins and Heat. Please click on that in the upper left corner of this blog].... And please follow me on Twitter (@flasportsbuzz) for immediate links on new posts.
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