MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins and standout defensive tackle Christian Wilkins have not reached an agreement on a contract extension ahead of the start of the 2023 regular season, but Wilkins ended his hold-in amid the dispute and was participating in Tuesday’s practice.
“At this point, I’m just focused on being the best teammate I can be and being there for my guys and getting ready to play a game and get focused on the season,” Wilkins said. “As far as (the extension) goes, whether or not something gets done, my focus is on the season. We have a game to play in two weeks.”
An ESPN report Tuesday said “Wilkins’ team was not agreeable to the guarantee structure of the contract proposals.” ESPN also reported there were teams that reached out to the Dolphins about a trade for Wilkins, but Miami was not interested in trading him, nor is Wilkins looking to play elsewhere at this time.
Wilkins, though, was happy to see friend and fellow defensive tackle Zach Sieler get his new contract over the weekend.
“Honestly, I couldn’t be more proud, more happy, more excited for someone than Zach Sieler,” Wilkins said. “That’s been my brother since Day One when he got here with like three games left in the season. I couldn’t be more happy, more proud of someone. All the work he’s put in, we were able to ride this thing out together since he came here.”
Sieler, who is now under contract through 2026, is also hopeful to continue playing with Wilkins in years to come.
“That’s my guy,” he said. “There’s nothing more I’d love than play with Christian for a long time, even longer. We’ve been very fortunate to have three, four years together now.”
Igbinoghene traded
The Dolphins cut ties with former first-round draft pick Noah Igbinoghene.
Igbinoghene, the No. 30 pick in the 2020 draft, was traded to the Dallas Cowboys on Tuesday ahead of the NFL’s deadline to trim rosters to 53 players.
In return, the Dolphins got Cowboys cornerback Kelvin Joseph. Miami and Dallas essentially traded highly drafted cornerbacks who haven’t panned out.
Joseph was a 2021 second-round pick of the Cowboys, No. 44 overall. He has started three games over the past two seasons, making 36 tackles, with four pass deflections, without an interception and recovering a fumble.
Igibinoghene has five spot starts over the past three seasons, making 29 tackles, five pass deflections and two fumble recoveries. He has been a healthy inactive 14 times over the past two seasons.
His top moment with the Dolphins was the sealing interception in last season’s “Sunday Night Football” win over the Pittsburgh Steelers when Miami was plagued by injuries in the secondary.
The former Auburn cornerback and speedster was competing for a roster spot with the Dolphins having Jalen Ramsey get injured early in training camp. Igbinoghene still did not distinguish himself against veteran Eli Apple and rookie Cam Smith behind Xavien Howard and Kader Kohou.
Joseph is a Baton Rouge, Louisiana native who played for LSU and Kentucky in college. While seeing minimal playing time defensively, he is also a special teams contributor, which Igbinoghene was not. He also carries a cap hit of $2.122 million in 2023, compared to Igbinoghene’s $3.58 million.
Joseph was previously investigated for a March 2022 drive-by shooting, but he was cleared in the investigation that summer.
Feeney traded
Igbinoghene wasn’t the only Dolphin traded. Offensive lineman Dan Feeney’s time with the Dolphins is done before he takes his first regular-season snap with the team.
Feeney was traded to the Chicago Bears. In return, the Dolphins received a 2024 sixth-round pick from Chicago.
Feeney signed with Miami in March to provide depth and competition on the interior of the offensive line, but he never panned out throughout training camp and the preseason. He was never part of the Dolphins’ competition for the starting left guard spot and was restricted to backup center duties.
Miami signed Feeney to a one-year, $3.25 million contract in free agency and will still have to eat most of it in dead cap in the form of the $2,045,000 that was guaranteed. Feeney came over as one of three offensive free agents that spent last season with the New York Jets, along with backup quarterback Mike White and wide receiver Braxton Berrios.
The Bears needed another interior lineman after left guard Teven Jenkins was injured this month.
In addition to the sixth-round selection, unloading Feeney gave the Dolphins one less decision to make ahead the active-roster cut-down deadline to get down to 53 players from training camp’s 90-man rosters. Miami already cut 14 players Monday, plus had outside linebacker Malik Reed reportedly released.
While having plenty of guards between Isaiah Wynn, Liam Eichenberg, Lester Cotton and others, the Dolphins may need a backup center now behind starter Connor Williams. Undrafted rookie Alama Uluave was the team’s only other true center but he was cut Tuesday morning. Eichenberg practiced the position some during organized team activities and minicamp in May and June.
Wilson contract re-worked
Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr. had his contract re-structured, according to multiple reports.
Wilson’s contract called for him to earn $7 million but now he’ll reportedly earn $2 million and receive a $3 million signing bonus. He has a chance to earn $7.25 million with incentives. Wilson’s contract now voids after 2024 instead of 2025.
Bills’ Miller out vs. Dolphins
When the Dolphins visit western New York Oct. 1, they will not have to face star edge rusher Von Miller.
The Bills will begin the season with Miller on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list as Miller continues to recover from last season’s torn anterior cruciate ligament in a knee. That designation puts him out the first four games of the season, and Miami’s trip to Buffalo is Week 4 of the regular season.
