Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Gibson said last month that he was “slowly getting into things” as he recovered from last year’s torn patellar tendon and that he “definitely” expected to be healthy enough to play in the first week of the regular season.
It looks like that was more than just cockeyed optimism. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports that Gibson was on the field and working when the team started their organized team activities on Tuesday, seven months after he suffered the injury that ended his 2013 season. Salguero’s colleague Adam Beasley adds that Brian Hartline, recovering from a torn PCL, is also taking part on Tuesday.
Hartline’s early return to health is important for the Dolphins’ season, but probably not crucial to his chances of making the team. The same may not be true for Gibson, who saw the team draft Jarvis Landry earlier this month to add to their options at slot receiver. The Dolphins could also trim some payroll by parting ways with Gibson, so being healthy as early as possible would seem to work in Gibson’s favor.
Gibson joined the Dolphins last season and had 30 catches for 326 yards and three touchdowns in seven games before his injury.