When a player gets snagged off of another practice squad, it’s not often they play a large role right away. However, it’s also not often that a former starting center is the one being claimed.
After being signed on Monday from the New Orleans Saints, center Austin Reiter has been thrown into the fire. During his media availability after practice on Friday, he was asked if he’s been taking any reps with the starters.
“I’ve gotten some mixes in there,” Reiter replied.
Not even five days into his experience with Miami, he’s getting opportunities to show that he’s still a starting-caliber player at his position.
Center Michael Deiter’s injury created a hole that Greg Mancz recently filled. However, Mancz’s also popped up on the injury report this week with a neck injury.
Reiter was also asked if he’d like a crack at being in Miami for a while, knowing that Deiter will be back eventually.
“Absolutely,” Reiter said. “I think you could be on any of the 31 other teams, and you would want to have that mentality as a player in the league… With the tenure I have, the run in Kansas City, nothing’s guaranteed. It’s a humbling game still. Stay as long as you can. Work as hard as you can.”
Reiter played nearly 90% of the snaps for the Chiefs the last two seasons and helped them on their runs to two Super Bowl appearances. In his last three seasons, he was never ranked below seventh for all centers in pass-protection, something Miami desperately needs, by PFF.
With all of the Dolphins’ issues early in the season along the offensive line, Reiter’s addition might end up as one of the more important moves that the front office makes this year.
