MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins rookie Patrick Paul played one snap on Sunday at Seattle.
Starting left tackle Terron Armstead played 20 snaps before sustaining a concussion.
Backup left tackle Kendall Lamm played 41 snaps and was subbed out for one play.
Paul, the second-rounder from Houston, made the most of that snap, grabbing a hold of Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight on a run play and pushing him and driving him and pushing him and driving him and…
You get the idea.
Let’s say Paul played through the whistle. Let’s say Knight was backed up in his own end zone and it appeared Paul was determined to drive Knight into a stadium tunnel.
It reminded folks watching of the play from that movie. What was that movie called?
“The Blind Side,” the gentle giant Paul said Thursday in the Dolphins locker room.
Was he going go to run Knight into that tunnel?
“Honestly, yeah,” said Paul, who is 6-foot-7, 332 pounds. “I was kind of just warming up a little bit, you know, trying to get my feet rolling. So I heard the play call and I was just like, you know what, let me just go, let me get warmed up, let me see how I can go. So that was just my mindset, to try to play, to try to be like that.”
It’s not known if Armstead will be available for Monday night’s game against Tennessee.
It’s possible Miami sticks with the steady veteran Lamm.
Or, it’s possible Miami turns to the enormous Paul, in search of a physical attack.
“I’m feeling good about his readiness and ability to play NFL football in the regular season,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday. “What ready means is that he can be counted on for his assignments and he’s steadily progressed in his techniques and fundamentals.”
Hmm. So how close is Paul?
“I’m feeling good about his development and I think his chance to play NFL football is coming soon,” McDaniel said. “I just don’t know how soon. He’s got to tell me that today.”
Paul has improved from the time he arrived to now, having worked closely with offensive line coach Butch Barry.
“I’d say the run game,” Paul said. “You know, Butch (Barry) is a great coach, Butch, Lem(uel Jeanpierre), Roman (Sapolo), they’re all great coaches. And we harp on the, I feel like we play offensive line so different than a lot of teams in the league. And that was an adjustment I had to get from college.”
The Dolphins had a padded practice on Thursday in Miami Gardens, which is not typical.
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill specifically said Miami wants to be physical.
What if Miami gets Paul involved on “Monday Night Football?”
“I’m going to embrace it,” Paul said. “It’s always a big moment. Your first start is always something you should be excited for, potentially. With that, you just have to rise to the occasion and ball out.”
Paul says he knew when he was drafted that he’d be working and learning from veteran tackles.
And he feels grateful.
“I love being here,” Paul said. “And I know that at any point you can go in, because that’s just football. So with that, just shout out to all those guys that are in there, the leaders we have. T-Stead (Armstead), Austin Jackson. Watching them, watching how they do it, so when it is my time, I’m ready. Whenever that is, it could be any play, any second, any moment. Just watching them and being ready for my moment.”
Jul 29, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Patrick Paul (52)) talks to reporters during an interview after training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports