What to know about new Dolphins receiver DuBose. And what changed for Malik Washington

The Dolphins enter Week 1 with only five wide receivers on their 53-man roster, and two of them — Grant DuBose and rookie Malik Washington — have never appeared in a regular-season game.

That could result in a scenario where the Dolphins elevate one or two veteran receivers from their practice squad for their Sept. 8 opener against visiting Jacksonville.

Robbie Chosen (379 receptions in 120 games) and Dee Eskridge (17 catches in 24 career games) are the veteran elevation options for Week 1 and potentially beyond, with less-experienced Erik Ezukanma also on the Dolphins’ practice squad.

In the meantime, DuBose works to get up to speed with Miami’s offense after the Dolphins claimed him off waivers from Green Bay on Wednesday.

The Dolphins claimed DuBose in part because Packers coach Matt LaFleur spoke highly of him this week in a conversation with Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel, a friend and former colleague.

LaFleur’s recommendation to McDaniel “makes you feel good, makes you feel confident about the body of work you’ve put in,” DuBose said at his locker on Thursday.

From his exit conversation with LaFleur, does DuBose know the reason he was cut from Green Bay?

“It wasn’t [anything I] could have done,” DuBose said. “We both felt like I did everything I could at my position. It’s a pretty deep room over there; they’ve got a good group of guys. It’s a numbers thing. Just didn’t work out in my favor. Hopefully we can make that change here and give myself an opportunity.”

A 2023 seventh-round pick of the Packers out of North Carolina-Charlotte, DuBose spent last season on the Packers’ practice squad and did not appear in a game. A zero-star recruit, DeBose initially began his career at Division II Miles College before transferring to Charlotte. He had 64 catches for 792 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior in 2022.

At 6-2, he’s the tallest receiver on the Dolphins’ 53-man roster.

“I think I offer a different skill set than what’s in the room right now,” he said. “I’m more of a bigger guy, more physical receiver — not taking anything away from guys already here. I can help in the run game with blocking. I can make plays at all three levels. I really think I’m a complete guy. I don’t know how I fit into this offense or scheme, but we’re going to find out.”

He’s considered a willing and skilled blocker: “I don’t mind it. If I have to go out there and dig out a safety to help spring a big run, I don’t mind it.”

He also can fill multiple roles on coverage units on special teams: “I’ve done a gunner role. If we need a gunner role, I can help fill that role.”

McDaniel indicated that he liked DuBose during the 2023 draft process and said “it didn’t hurt that I have a strong relationship that’s very communicative with their head coach Matt LaFleur, so I kind of knew what Grant was like day in, day out.

“For what we’re trying to do and the roles that we have on our team, I thought he was a very good fit for his skill sets and what we’re looking for to add to our wide receiver room. I’m very, very happy we got that claim.”

With regards to the offenses that LaFleur and McDaniel run, “I saw similarities,” DuBose said. “Once we got out on the field [in Miami Gardens], and they start throwing other things out there, it’s a little different. Some of the different motions will take some getting used to. Something I have to learn, but I don’t think it’s going to be hard.”

DuBose knows only two Dolphins — cornerback Cam Smith and running back De’Von Achane. He trained with them previously.

Meanwhile, Washington said his confidence was buoyed by his performance in the preseason finale in Tampa, which featured a 40-yard run, a 45-yard kickoff return and a 28-yard punt return.

“Coming into that last game, I wanted to put on display the ability that I had, start to see some of that college stuff translate to the NFL level, [such as] breaking tackles,” Washington said. “That was huge for my confidence, huge to know that I do have what it takes to play at this level. And continue to bring it into the regular season.”

He said receivers coach Wes Welker “wants me playing free, playing fast.”

He said he really “enjoys the new kickoff rule, seeing how I can excel there” but adds that Braxton Berrios “is a phenomenal returner. He knows what he’s doing back there. Watching him play and get more comfortable with it and be that next guy up if anything happens” is good enough for him at this point.

DuBose, Washington and Berrios are the only healthy Dolphins receivers on the 53-man roster. Tyreek Hill (finger) didn’t practice Thursday and Jaylen Waddle (lower body injury) was in a red noncontact jersey, though both are expected to play in the opener barring a setback.

Besides Hill, others not seen at practice on Thursday were cornerback Jalen Ramsey (McDaniel has said he will be fine for the opener), running back Jaylen Wright (nursing an undisclosed injury), center Aaron Brewer (hand), linebacker Quinton Bell (unknown) and defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who was in the locker room afterward and appears to be fine.

THIS AND THAT

Left tackle Terron Armstead, who has done very limited 11 on 11 work in preseason, said “I’ll be ready for the opener…. I feel great.”

▪ Long snapper Blake Ferguson said general manager Chris Grier called to explain to him the situation before he was waived for a day.

Though Grier didn’t mention rookie safety Patrick McMorris by name, Miami essentially needed to cut Ferguson to avoid subjecting McMorris to waivers. McMorris made the initial 53 and then was placed on injured reserve a day later, a procedural move that preserves his ability to return this season after sitting out four games.

Ferguson, who re-signed with Miami on Wednesday evening, said other teams inquired about him while he was briefly a free agent but that he told his agent to convey that he wants to be in Miami.

▪ Quick stuff: Shaq Barrett, who retired from the Dolphins in July days before the start of training camp, told Kay Adams that if he plays again, it would be for Tampa Bay. The Dolphins hold his rights...

Dolphins players are off Friday through Sunday and return to practice Monday… Though the Dolphins showed some initial interest, TCU rookie Mark Perry signed with the Houston Texans practice squad. Miami already had six safeties, including Jordan Colbert on the practice squad.

NEWS NOTE

The Dolphins added three players to their practice squad on Friday: linebacker William Bradley-King, tackle Anderson Hardy and running back Deneric Prince.

Bradley-King appeared in four games for Washington in 2021 and 2022 (and had half a sack) and spent last year on the Commanders’ practice squad.

Prince becomes the fifth running back now employed by the Dolphins and the only one on the practice squad. He appeared in two games for Kansas City last year after averaging 5.5 yards per carry with 14 TDs on 314 rushing attempts in three years at Tulsa.

Hardy, a standout left tackle at Applachian State, spent 2023 training camp with Kansas City and 2024 training camp with Pittsburgh.