Dolphins tight end Dustin Keller will miss the entire season with a knee injury, but the team says all is not lost at the position.
The Dolphins have selected tight ends in each of the last three drafts, taking Charles Clay in the sixth round in 2011, Michael Egnew in the third round in 2012 and Dion Sims in the fourth round in 2013, and Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman says all three of them have practiced very well since Keller went down.
“The loss of Keller is disappointing because he was making so much progress even as a blocker, and then fitting into our offense,” Sherman said, via Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. “The other three guys have really done a nice job. Obviously, they have a lot on their shoulders now with the loss of Dustin, so they need to be able to pick up the slack there. I think the tight ends have really made a lot of improvement. I think [tight end coach] Dan Campbell is a tireless coach and stays after them and gets the best out of his players.”
None of those three players can do everything Keller does. But the three of them together may contribute enough to lessen the blow of losing Keller for the season.