Termine » ason is unlikely unless Miami

While Andy Dalton was throwing deep passes to A.J. Green and the rest of the Bengals receivers on Friday Eli Manning Jersey , Tyler Eifert was on a side field running sprints in shorts and a cut-off shirt.

He ran one sprint, then another. Next were some agility drills. The tight end did everything except catch one of Dalton's spirals.

The Bengals' most oft-injured player hopes that part comes soon.

The Bengals have gambled that Eifert can stay healthy for a full season and get the NFL's worst offense moving again. He played only two games last season before hurting his back again, prompting another medical procedure. Eifert was a free agent after the season, and the Bengals decided to keep him with an incentive-laden, one-year deal .

Cincinnati's offense finished last in the league in yards. A healthy Eifert could help change that.

"I can't predict the future on that one, but I can testify to the fact that he made a difference when he was up and running for us," director of player personnel Duke Tobin said. "We know what he can do if he can get back to that level."

Eifert is one of Dalton's favorite targets. He caught 13 touchdown passes in 2015, the most by a tight end in Bengals history. That was the last time the Bengals made the playoffs. A concussion, a dislocated elbow, a torn ankle ligament and two back injuries have limited him to 24 games over the last four years.

Although the Bengals have encouraging reports on Eifert's back, they've decided to go slow with him at the start of camp. He hasn't been cleared to practice even though he feels he's ready Kerry Wynn Jersey , forcing him to work out on a side field the first two days.

"When I came back, I thought I'd go right into practice," Eifert said. "Everyone knows all the surgeries I've had. We're just being smart about it."

The Bengals are trying to keep him healthy and get him in shape for the opener at Indianapolis on Sept. 9. He said there's been no discussion about how much he might play in the preseason.

"I definitely need to get back out there, get some plays full-speed," Eifert said. "It's been a while."

Eifert hurt his back during the second game last season, a 13-9 loss to Houston. Backups Tyler Kroft and C.J. Uzomah combined for 52 catches and eight touchdowns during the season.

Eifert's greatest asset is his ability to make catches in tight coverage, the main reason he became Dalton's favorite target near the goal line. The tight end has made one change in the offseason, dropping at least 10 pounds for quickness.

"I feel a lot better," he said. "Everyone is always saying you're got to block and hang in there in the trenches, you've got to put on weight, but that's (wrong)."

ON THE SIDE: Linebacker Vontaze Burfict also worked out on the side Friday for the second straight day. He hasn't been cleared to practice. Burfict is suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

ROSS AGAIN: Second-year receiver John Ross made his second impressive catch of camp on a long throw Chris Conte Jersey , drawing applause from the crowd of 1,050. Ross missed most of his rookie season with shoulder injuries.

OUCH: Tony McRae fell while trying to break up a pass, and receiver Cody Core landed on the back of the cornerback's right leg. McRae limped to a cart and was taken off for an exam.

MIAMI (AP) — South Floridians with a tour group visiting Kenya recently were pleased to encounter a young boy who emerged from a mud hut wearing a Miami Dolphins shirt, the only NFL apparel evident in his village.

Alas, while the Dolphins might rank No. 1 in at least one part of Africa, they’re bringing up the rear in preseason prognostications stateside.

One TV network places them 32nd and last. Another web site ranks their Super Bowl chances ahead of only the New York Jets. Oddsmakers put the over-under for victories at 6.5, which would be a slight improvement on last year’s 6-10 record.

“We’re not being talked about,” running back Kenyan Drake said. “If you look at our home schedule this year, we have all 1 o’clock games. That shows that the league doesn’t see us as a prime-time matchup for anybody.”

Low expectations are nothing new for a franchise that has played one postseason game since 2008.

Here are things to know about the once-again under-the-radar Dolphins:

THE QB: Ryan Tannehill returns after missing the past 20 games because of left knee issues, and keeping him healthy will be the No. 1 priority.

He’s fine with the notion the season hinges on him.

“I love feeling that responsibility, because I know that I can handle it Joshua Garnett Jersey ,” Tannehill said. “We can do something special. Being able to captain that ship, so to speak, is a lot of fun.”

The offensive line could be the best Tannehill has played behind, which improves the chances the Dolphins can keep him in the lineup.

THE COACH: Adam Gase was considered a keeper after he led Miami’s overachieving 2016 team to 10 wins and the playoffs as a rookie NFL coach. The luster faded last year, when the Dolphins were inconsistent and undisciplined and lost eight of their final 10 games.

Gase remains supremely confident in his ability to lead the Dolphins to their first postseason win since 2000 — and more.

“It’s a new start,” he said. “That’s the beauty of this league. You never know what personality a team’s going to take on, what their characteristics are going to be, how they are going to handle adversity. You have those teams where nobody thinks they were going to do anything, and all of a sudden you’re talking about them in January.”

SHAKING IT UP: Under Gase, the Dolphins have committed more penalties than any other team in the past two seasons.

There were disciplinary issues off the field as well last year, which is partly why Miami bid adieu to three players with Pro Bowl resumes: defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh Doug Kotar Jersey , receiver Jarvis Landry and center Mike Pouncey.

Gase brought in running back Frank Gore and receiver Danny Amendola, both veterans with reputations as leaders. The season will determine whether an improved culture can compensate for the loss of talent.

SHAKING IT UP II: Middle linebacker Raekwon McMillan and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick will assume significant roles despite having no NFL experience. McMillan, Miami’s most promising rookie a year ago, is back after a knee injury in the first exhibition game ended his 2017 season.

Fitzpatrick is expected to make an immediate impact after being taken with the 11th overall pick in April.

Two other rookies, tight end Mike Gesicki and outside linebacker Jerome Baker, also made strong bids for starting jobs in training camp. Altogether the Dolphins could have 10 new starters.

STOPPING THE RUN: A winning season is unlikely unless Miami significantly improves a run defense that was awful the second half of last season, and early indications for 2018 are worrisome. In the second exhibition game, the Dolphins allowed 226 yards rushing to Carolina, including 71 on one play.

It was so bad Suh poked fun at his former team on Instagram.

“Lol,” he wrote.

The Dolphins will formulate their response beginning Sept. 9 against Tennessee.

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