Report: Nobody on Miami Dolphins is getting fewer reps than Chosen Anderson

Chosen Anderson joined the Miami Dolphins with a chance to carve out a role as a wide receiver in their explosive passing game, but the veteran reportedly is not getting much of an opportunity in training camp so far.

Anderson signed a one-year contract reportedly worth a little over $1 million in April, giving him a chance to play closer to his Florida home. He was born in New Jersey but went to high school in Florida. The 31-year-old has said that he enjoyed the Dolphins era when Ricky Williams and Chris Chambers were standouts on offense.

He could bring another element to the Dolphins’ speedy offense under head coach Mike McDaniel, possibly joining Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in three-receiver sets. Anderson could be competing with Braxton Berrios and Cedrick Wilson Jr. for the role.

The Miami Herald reported that Berrios seems to be the leader for the job despite Anderson standing out during practices in May and June.

​”We didn’t promise him anything,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said of Anderson this spring. “We said we’ve got some good young players here that are pushing for time and he understood that.”

Anderson is coming off his worst NFL season, which included a trade from the Carolina Panthers to the Arizona Cardinals in October. He had just 20 receptions in 16 games played, but his average of 14.1 yards per catch remained in the neighborhood of some of his better NFL campaigns.

After playing his first four NFL seasons with the New York Jets, Anderson compiled his best statistical campaign in his first year with the Panthers, catching 95 passes for 1,096 receiving yards in the 2020 campaign. But he has caught just 73 passes in the two seasons since then.

The chance for big numbers would seem to be available in the Dolphins offense led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, with Hill earlier saying its potential for this season gives him “goosebumps.” That’s even without free agent running back Dalvin Cook, another player familiar with Florida who has been linked to Miami but still doesn’t have a home for the upcoming season.

Anderson’s lack of usage during training camp appears to be a mystery, and it will be worth watching to see if he appears in any preseason games. For what it’s worth, he appears to be in the midst of a big day in camp on Friday.

If the veteran can return to the form he showed with the Panthers, the Dolphins could have another dangerous weapon as they pursue a second straight playoff berth.