Dolphins' Cedrick Wilson says his 12-catch season ‘like you didn't play football'
MIAMI GARDENS — The best thing about the Dolphins’ offense, receiver Cedrick Wilson was saying Wednesday, is that anybody can get the ball at any time.
Which should be a hint of what 2022 must have been like for Wilson. Coming off a 602-yard season with Dallas, he signed a free-agent contract with the Dolphins, only to see Miami land Tyreek Hill six days later.
Wilson probably knew Hill’s arrival would affect how often he got the ball. But this much? By season’s end, Wilson had only 12 receptions (down from 45 the year prior), no touchdowns (down from six) and 136 yards.
“I mean, with the stats not there, it just says like you didn’t play football,” Wilson said. “So I mean, if I played, then the numbers are going to match.”
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The opportunity is now there. Trent Sherfield filled the No. 3 receiver role last season, but he signed with Buffalo, leaving a void that could be filled by Wilson, Braxton Berrios or Robbie Chosen, or possibly a few others.
Or possibly Wilson’s opportunity is elsewhere. In April, general manager Chris Grier said the Dolphins were listening to offers for Wilson.
“We’ve had teams call and ask about him,” Grier said. “We’re not shopping him but teams have called. And especially when we just added Chosen, we’ve had a couple of teams reach out. He’s a really good guy and I’m trying to do right by him because of how he’s handled himself on and off the field.”
Wilson’s way is to ignore the business side as much as possible.
“I’m not sure what they talked about, the agent and owner people,” he said. “I just told him let me know whatever goes on after the fact. I’m at work, so don’t bother me with it every day.”
Grier expressed empathy for Wilson’s plight.
“Cedrick signed here to be the No. 2 (receiver) at the time and then we made the trade for Tyreek,” Grier said. “But how he handled himself, he’s an incredible professional. Like volunteering to return kicks for us at the end of the year. He saved us and won us some games with some key returns that probably people don’t give him credit for.”
The Dolphins preferred not to expose Hill or Jaylen Waddle in the return game, so an itchy Wilson raised his hand.
“I felt like I wasn’t being used on offense, so punt returns, I feel like nobody was there to do it,” Wilson said. “It was the only way I could help at the time.”
Wilson ended up returning 13 punts for a 7.5 average and fair-catching 16 others.
Naturally, any receiver with a 600-yard season on his resume feels he can help, and Wilson is no exception as he turns to 2023.
“Whatever opportunity presents itself, I’m going to take full advantage of it,” he said. “So I feel like that’s the mindset I’ve always carried as long as I’ve been in the league.”
Even with Sherfield out of the picture, the No. 3 role won’t be handed to Wilson. Or anybody. Entering training camp, it will be as wide open as any role on the team.
“We definitely got some more speed,” Wilson said. “Braxton’s quick as hell and then Chosen, I mean, he’s going to get the deep balls for sure.”
To take his best shot at the job, Wilson, 27, has focused on taking care of his body this offseason, working on stretching, chiropractic and nutrition.
Nutrition?
“I’m terrible with it,” he said.
His weakness: wings. And don’t get him started on going the air fryer route.
“No air fryer,” he said. “If I’m going to eat them, I’m going to eat ’em right.”
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com and followed on Twitter @gunnerhal.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins' Cedrick Wilson says his quiet 2022 was like he didn't play
