Cordrea

Tankersley

The move was simultaneous with Tankersley’s activation off the COVID-19 list. The No. 97 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Tankersley’s career has never gotten off the ground because of injury. Old for a fourth-year pro — Tankersley turns 27 in November — his NFL future is grim.

Long snapper Blake Ferguson and DT Benito Jones were also placed on the list. This does not necessarily mean the three tested positive for the virus, as players in close contact with others who have tested positive can also land on the list. Tankersley, a former third-round pick, already faced an uphill climb to make the roster after dealing with an ACL injury and spending last season on the PUP list.

Tankersley started 11 games as a rookie in 2017 before playing just six games in 2018 as backup. His absence won’t impact the Dolphins’ starting secondary, but it certainly doesn’t help their depth. The Dolphins ranked just 23rd in pass DVOA last season (Football Outsiders).

All three can be activated at any time. Allen signed a two-year deal with Dolphins this offseason and is expected to operate as the second tight end behind Mike Gesicki. The veteran tight end is off the fantasy radar. The Dolphins also claimed OL Will Holden off waivers and waived cornerback Jamar Summers.

Tankersley is six months removed from tearing his ACL. He was “still limping” back in April and isn’t participating in OTAs. Tankersley will miss at least the first six games if he lands on reserve/PUP.

Per reporter Armando Salguero, Tankersley “doesn’t seem to have full extension in the leg.” The No. 97 overall pick of the 2017 draft, Tankersley played 637 reasonably-promising rookie snaps before a shipwrecked sophomore campaign. He was riding the pine before tearing up his knee in practice in November. This bodes poorly for his odds of a 2019 bounce-back.

Tankersley appeared in just one game this season, playing 29 snaps in Week 6. A third-round pick last year, Tankersley started 11 games as a rookie and was expected to start this year, but lost out to Bobby McCain and Torry McTyer behind Xavien Howard. Minkah Fitzpatrick has been covering the slot in nickel and dime situations. Tankersley should be ready Week 1 2019.

Tankersley (6’1/199) made 30 starts in the Tigers’ secondary, amassing 22 pass breakups with nine interceptions and earning first-team All-ACC as a senior. PFF College charted Tankersley with a 44.6% completion rate and just one touchdown pass allowed in 2016. Tankersley bombed his vertical (29 ½") at the Combine, but ran fast (4.40) and showed adequate change-of-direction skills with a 7.00 three-cone time. Tankersley’s drawbacks are his athletic question marks and penalty proneness after being flagged seven times as a senior. He is also slightly old for a rookie, turning 24 in November. Still a quality press-man prospect, Tankersley has an outside chance to develop into a quality No. 2 cornerback.

The No. 97 overall pick of last year’s draft, Tankersley started 11 games as a rookie. Coach Adam Gase agrees with Pro Football Focus’ ratings that Tankersley had an up-and-down year. “He got better,” Gase said. “There were times he wishes he could go back and do some things different. But that’s a rookie year.” Tankersley just needs to hold off a rehabbing Tony Lippett (Achilles) and slot man Bobby McCain to get the job.