The Miami Dolphins have added yet another journeyman offensive lineman to their 53-man roster this week, announcing on Tuesday that the team was signing offensive tackle Andrew Donnal. The move serves as the catalyst for the Dolphins cutting defensive end Tank Carradine — but more importantly calls into question the health of starting left tackle Jesse Davis.
Davis, who has been coming along nicely in his late summer transition from right tackle to left tackle, was shaken up during Miami’s 31-6 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3 and had to leave the game. In his absence, starting left guard Michael Deiter stepped into the blind side tackle role — his first NFL taste of life on the outside.
But Deiter shouldn’t be moved to tackle for any extended injury to Davis, it would be a counterproductive move that negates Deiter’s long-term development in the name of a short-term move during a lost 2019 season.
Enter Donnal.
Donnal entered the NFL in 2015 as a member of the (then) St. Louis Rams — he was a 4th-round draft selection from the University of Iowa who would go on to start 6 games for the Rams before being cut in 2017. Donnal has also spent time with the Baltimore Ravens (2017) and Detroit Lions (2018) before finding his way to South Florida to serve as an insurance policy at offensive tackle.
Given Miami’s apparent commitment fo Davis for the next few years, here’s hoping Donnal won’t need to see the field. Chemistry between Davis and Deiter should be coveted at this juncture, they’re likely the only two returning starters for a 2020 offensive line in Miami.
