Acquired via trade in the offseason from the Saints, the Dolphins have high hopes for receiver Kenny Stills. However, those hopes have yet to translate into significant playing time or stats.
Via David Neal of the Miami Herald, Stills has participated in less than half of the snaps through two games, with only three catches for 20 yards.
“That’s just kind of the coaches’ decision,” Stills told Neal. “He’s got the guys in he wants in to play. It’s above my pay grade to worry about those things. I’ve been preparing myself to play. I’m healthy and I feel great. That’s the way the coach is game planning. So we just go with that.”
Part of the problem could be the time needed to establish chemistry with his new quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, who’s still working to become like Stills’ former quarterback in New Orleans.
“Drew [Brees] has been doing it for a long time and he’s very methodical with his work,” Stills told PFT Live earlier this week, “and I feel like with Ryan, he’s still kind of trying to get into his rhythm and the way he wants to do things and build his relationship with us and he’s taking control of the offense and becoming the leader of this team.”
As Neal notes, it took time for Stills to emerge last season; he had three catches for 25 yards though two games in 2014. As the year progressed, Stills did more. He did a lot more after then-rookie Brandin Cooks was lost for the rest of the year.
So it’s too early to give up on Stills. Before he can make an impact, however, he needs to be on the field at least half the time.