Rounding Up the Latest Miami Dolphins Offseason Buzz

With organized team activities in the rearview mirror and mandatory minicamp around the corner, the news is flying in around all NFL teams and their offseason workout programs.

The Miami Dolphins are no exception.

Updates on key injuries, battles for starting spots, unexpected signings and second-year jumps are among the key storylines that are developing even at this early juncture of the spring program. 

With so much happening all at once, it can be hard to keep track of everything that's being reported, especially when some reports are conflicting. So, here's a rundown of all the latest news around the Dolphins.

Jarvis Landry Expected to Be Ryan Tannehill's Go-to Receiver

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The Dolphins have added a lot of new weapons to their offense this offseason, but one of last year's new weapons could be one of this year's key pieces of artillery.

Jarvis Landry may not have all the physical skills that teams love in their wide receivers. He's not particularly big at 5'11" and 202 pounds, and he doesn't have elite long speed, having run a 4.77-second 40-yard dash at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine. 

None of that has made a difference at Dolphins practices, though, according to Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald, who says Landry "will probably be [quarterback Ryan Tannehill's] go-to-guy, particularly in the early part of the season."

That wouldn't be much of a change from 2014, however, when Landry led the Dolphins in receptions (84) by a wide margin over second-place Mike Wallace (67). He also had more receptions than Wallace on fewer targets (112 for Landry compared to 115 for Wallace). 

With news of DeVante Parker's foot surgery (more on that later), it's safe to predict that Miami will rely on Landry to keep the offense moving, at least until Parker is ready to go at 100 percent again. 

When Will DeVante Parker Be Available?

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

With news that DeVante Parker had surgery to put a new screw into a previously fractured foot, everyone is wondering when the Dolphins' 2015 first-round pick will be available to play again. 

The answer varies depending on who you ask. 

According to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports, "it's hopeful" that Parker could play in Week 1 of the regular season. However, Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post reports a timetable in the neighborhood of eight to 12 weeks for a full recovery. Even if it's the full 12 weeks, Parker should still be ready to go for Week 1 or Week 2 of the regular season.

He was considered one of the most NFL-ready draft prospects at his position in this year's class, so he could feasibly step off the couch and onto the field and be ready to make an impact right away. That being said, why rush? The Dolphins have plenty of talent at receiver, and although they have major long-term plans for Parker, their offense could still be effective without him to start. 

Branden Albert Looks Far from Ready at OTAs

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

While organized team activities are not considered a time for evaluation as much as they are for teaching, one thing we can evaluate at these practices is how certain players are recovering from recent surgeries.

According to James Walker of ESPN.com, Dolphins left tackle Branden Albert is not recovering so well from an ACL tear he suffered in 2014; in fact, Walker says Albert "looks far from ready," and although he's jogging, he "has a big hitch in his step." 

Albert's absence could have repercussions across the offensive line, and those repercussions have shown up in practice. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the starting offensive line has been (from left tackle to right tackle) Jason Fox, Dallas Thomas, Mike Pouncey, Billy Turner and Ja'Wuan James. 

If someone like Fox is forced to play significant time protecting Ryan Tannehill's blind side, the Dolphins could be in big trouble. 

Despite C.J. Mosley Signing, Earl Mitchell Will Still Start at DT

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

It appears the Dolphins plan on having Ndamukong Suh locked into one starting spot at defensive tackle and on having a revolving door at the spot next to him. 

The team already had Earl Mitchell under contract but also drafted Oklahoma defensive tackle Jordan Phillips and signed free-agent defensive tackle C.J. Mosley. Despite those two additions, though, Mitchell is still one of Miami's two starting defensive tackles, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald. 

Mitchell has never been more than a rotational player throughout his career. According to Pro Football Focus, he maxed out at 553 snaps in the 2013 season with the Houston Texans, and he earned only 543 snaps for the Dolphins in 2014.

The Dolphins may still have Mitchell in a limited role, with Phillips and Mosley coming in off the bench, but it appears the starting job is Mitchell's to lose. 

Caleb Sturgis Hurt Himself Playing Kickball

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

Kicker Caleb Sturgis has been unable to participate in practices due to a leg injury, but how did he suffer the injury? According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, it happened during a team-organized kickball event. 

The Dolphins decided to schedule a team-building activity following a recent practice," Jackson writes, "and someone in a position of authority—it's unclear if it was a coach or the strength/conditioning staff—decided on a game of kickball."

It was probably not the smartest idea, but Sturgis was in danger of losing his job to rookie kicker Andrew Franks from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute anyway. Unless Sturgis is ready and able to participate in practices late next month, that job could slip through his fingers—or in this case, off his foot.