Hunter

Long

Long returned to practice Wednesday, opening his 21-day activation window from injured reserve. He was placed on injured reserve at the beginning of the season with a thigh injury. The Rams can get Long back within the next three weeks to add to their offense.

Bennet suffered a right shoulder injury late in the summer and has not practiced this week. Brett Rypien is slated for backup duties in his absence. Per McVay, backup tight end Hunter Long is also a candidate to land on injured reserve.

Long came over to the organization in the Jalen Ramsey trade with the Dolphins earlier this offseason but had been on the PUP list since his acquisition. The former third-round tight end had largely been buried on the Dolphins’ depth chart but could carve out a significant role alongside starter Tyler Higbee in Los Angeles.

Long was a third-round pick of the Dolphins in 2021, but has been buried behind Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe on the Dolphins depth chart. Long has just 183 offensive snaps to his name so far. The Rams figure to put him second on their tight-end depth chart behind Tyler Higbee ... unless of course Higbee is also a name that could appeal to someone on the trade market. For now, Long figures to keep only minimal fantasy value.

Long was carted off the practice field a few weeks back after getting shoved out of bounds while making a catch. He (surprisingly) returned on Thursday, participating in team drills in front of reporters. Long notably led all tight ends in targets (88) and receptions (57) in his final season at Boston College.

Long injured his left knee after getting shoved out of bounds while making a catch. He was unable to put any weight on his knee following the play and trainers had to help him to the cart. The Dolphins selected Long in the third round of this year’s draft. Long led all tight ends in targets (88) and receptions (57) in his final season at Boston College. He wasn’t going to unseat Mike Gesicki for the starting role in Miami but Long could have contributed as a blocker and pass-catcher as a rookie. If he does miss time, Adam Shaheen and Cethan Carter will back up Gesicki.

The Dolphins have just one rookie left unsigned. Long (6'5/254) accrued experience as both an in-line blocker and receiving threat throughout his ACC career, leading the Eagles in receiving yards (509) in 2019 before leading all FBS tight ends in targets (88) and receptions (57) last season. His lengthy arms (33 3/4-inches) and 88th percentile broad jump are favorable traits to help bail out quarterbacks both downfield and inside the red zone. A jack of all trades but master of none, Long could develop into a reliable starter sooner rather than later. He will be 23 years old in Week 1. The Dolphins have yet to extend contract-year TE Mike Gesicki.

Long (6'5/254) accrued experience as both an in-line blocker and receiving threat throughout his ACC career, leading the Eagles in receiving yards (509) in 2019 before leading all FBS tight ends in targets (88) and receptions (57) last season. His lengthy arms (33 3/4-inches) and 88th percentile broad jump are favorable traits to help bail out quarterbacks both downfield and inside the red zone. A jack of all trades but master of none, Long could develop into a reliable starter sooner rather than later. He will be 23 years old in Week 1. The Dolphins have yet to extend contract-year TE Mike Gesicki.

The conversations regarding tight ends in this year’s draft class begins with Florida’s Kyle Pitts, who is expected to be a top-10 pick. But Long (6'5/253) should not be overlooked, especially after posting a 57-685-5 line this past fall. He’s also viewed as a good blocker, which should only help Long’s prospects for the end of this month. “Thirty-nine of his catches last season were on throws between 5-15 yards downfield, which means he knows how to get open. That ranked as the third most in FBS,” Kiper wrote. “Long is a complete player, and young tight ends who can block are tough to find, so he’s going to have a lot of suitors.” Long is likely to hear his name called at some point in the second round.

Long (6'6/255) has been one of the more productive tight ends in the ACC, if not the country, as he finished the regular season with 57 catches on 89 targets for 685 yards and five touchdowns. The towering tight end has prototypical NFL size and fits the mold of a physical, athletic pass catcher that scouts drool over. He avoids body catches thanks to a pair of soft hands that extend his already vast catch radius. Though not a dominant blocker, his crisp routes and burst out of his cuts more than make up for those deficiencies. Long has the size and strength to separate at the next level and present a matchup nightmare for linebackers and defensive backs alike. He projects as a top-five tight end for NFL Draft purposes.