Chris Perkins: You root for guys such as Dolphins tackle Kendall Lamm

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — I like guys such as Kendall Lamm. Perhaps more importantly, I respect guys such as Lamm, the Dolphins’ reserve offensive tackle.

Of course, I usually like offensive linemen.

But Lamm, the 31-year-old, eight-year veteran, has perspective, which helps keep his feet firmly planted on the ground. Perspective is why you enjoy talking to guys such as Lamm. He knows what life in the NFL means, and he can break things down to you.

Take Thursday’s Day 2 of training camp, for example.

Lamm played right tackle. Lamm, who started the New England game late last season in place of injured left tackle Terron Armstead, is battling a host of others for a backup tackle job, including former first-round picks Isaiah Wynn and Cedric Ogbuehi, and Geron Christian.

You could say Lamm playing right tackle is significant considering the Dolphins need a backup for starter Austin Jackson, who only played two games last season due to injury. Heck, you could even go as far as saying Lamm might be able to compete with Jackson for the starting job considering Jackson, the fourth-year player is unproven at his position.

But that’s not Lamm.

“Look at the date,” Lamm began. “It’s training camp. This is year nine for me. I’ve been around the block. I know what this means. It means just an opportunity each and every day.

“As you can see, today I was a right tackle with the second group. I don’t really look at first or second team. It’s not really how I do it. It’s just whatever reps you can get, whatever opportunity I can get, that’s what I do.”

Lamm isn’t making too much out of his opportunity, and you like to see that. You like to see guys who put their head down and go to work every day without keeping score.

Here’s the other thing I like about Lamm, who was signed by Houston after being undrafted out of Appalachian State in 2015. He’s got a little bit of that, “I told you so” in him, which makes him even human and not a NFL robot. Lamm, even now, all these years later, has a bit of vengeance on his mind.

“I remember my first year in Houston,” Lamm said, “you guys might remember this name, George Godsey (a Dolphins assistant coach from 2019-21). He looked at me and he said, ‘You know, nobody wanted you, Lamm.’

“And that’s something that plays in my head all the time. Now we blink and it’s Year Nine. I’ve been on the 53(-man roster) every year. I’ve been able to change my family’s life, so from my perspective it’s a blessing. I get to do something that most people don’t get to do. And as an undrafted free agent here in Year Nine, I would love to look George Godsey in his face and tell him, ‘We’re still here.’”

Lamm, who has also played for Cleveland (2019-20), Tennessee (2021) and Detroit (2022), doesn’t sweat the little things. He does his job. Period.

Ask him what he’d consider a good 2023 season from a personal standpoint and he’s not going to give you a certain amount of starts, or say, “Have a good day against the Los Angeles Chargers’ Joey Bosa.”

Lamm just wants to do his job, whatever that entails.

“I’ve played heavy tight end some of my career,” he said. “I’ve swung in, left (tackle), right (tackle), at any time. My second year with the Browns somebody got hurt in a playoff game, I had to go to left. Next game we played the Chiefs, somebody got hurt, I had to go to right.

“And that’s how my career has been. This is ball. For me, the road hasn’t always been easy. But to be honest, with my life, and if you would have been here from the start, you would have known it was never easy. So that’s why I just kind of do what I do.”

Lamm knows if he replaces Armstead, he won’t be as good as Armstead, the four-time Pro Bowl selection. But the same was true in Houston when he replaced Duane Brown, the five-time Pro Bowl selection, and it was true for Joe Thomas, Cleveland’s Hall of Fame left tackle.

Lamm isn’t concerned about things he can’t control.

“I know my role,” he said. “Every year it’s different. I’ve been in certain years where someone got hurt and I had to play all right tackle the rest of the year. I’ve been in years where you don’t see much right, you play left.

“So for me every day is going to be a different day. If I come in here tomorrow they say, ‘Lamm go to right (tackle),’ that’s what I’ll do. If I come in here tomorrow and they say, ‘Lamm go to left,’ that’s what I’ll do. If I come in here tomorrow and they say, ‘Lamm go to guard,’ I may frown a little bit, but that’s what I’ll do.”

Perspective. Humility. And the wisdom to know how to do your job and stay in the league.

That’s why I like guys such as Kendall Lamm.