JULY 5, 2021 • PHINPHANATIC.COM
PATRICK LAIRD
Miami Dolphins camp competition: Patrick Laird has a big hill to climb Patrick Laird has shown signs of being a very good change of pace and situational running back but his days with the Miami Dolphins are like...
Invisible in finale Laird played two offensive snaps during Week 17's 56-26 loss to the Bills.
Impact Laird closed out the 2020 campaign with his second game in a row sans either a carry or target. With both Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed available, Laird's opportunities for backfield work effectively dried up. Even if the Dolphins don't make significant additions to the running back room during the offseason, Laird's best-case scenario for 2021 would likely be to begin the year in a reserve role.
JANUARY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Sticks to special teams Laird didn't garner any carries or targets during Saturday's 26-25 win against the Raiders.
Impact Laird's entire 15-snap workload came via special teams during Miami's Week 16 win. The 25-year-old had taken a combined 50 offensive snaps over the Dolphins' preceding two outings against Kansas City and New England. However, with Myles Gaskin having returned from the reserve/COVID-19 list in time to face the Raiders, Laird was relegated from the offense entirely.
DECEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Two catches against Pats Laird had two carries for 20 yards during Sunday's 22-12 win over the Patriots. He also secured both of his targets for 12 yards.
Impact Laird worked as a depth and change-of-pace option behind Salvon Ahmed and Matt Breida in Week 15, logging runs of eight and 12 yards. If Myles Gaskin (undisclosed) can return from the COVID-19 list for Week 16, however, Laird's role on offense could dissipate entirely.
DECEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Just five touches again Laird had four carries for 19 yards during Sunday's 33-27 loss to the Chiefs. He also caught his only target for four yards.
Impact Laird appeared to be in position for increased touches when Myles Gaskin (illness) having tested positive for COVID-19 just prior to Sunday's game, but he took a clear back seat to DeAndre Washington. It looks like Gaskin could be forced to miss more time, but Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) and Matt Breida (illness) could each have a chance to return against the Patriots in Week 15.
DECEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
The Latest: Duke-Miami women's basketball game postponed
The Atlantic Coast Conference says Sunday’s women’s basketball game between Duke and Miami has been postponed as part of multiple schedule adjustmentsDECEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dolphins leading rusher Myles Gaskin goes on COVID-19 list
Miami Dolphins leading rusher Myles Gaskin has gone on the COVID-19 list, a blow to the playoff-contending team on the eve of its game against Kansas CityDECEMBER 12, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Gets five touches against Bengals Laird ran for six yards over three rush attempts, adding two catches for 16 yards during Sunday's 19-7 win against Cincinnati.
Impact Laird not only avoided relegation to the coach's dog house after fumbling his only carry last Sunday against the Jets, but he also doubled his previous season high in offensive touches as Salvon Ahmed (shoulder) and DeAndre Washington (hamstring) sat out. With Miami having waived Jordan Howard on Nov. 17, the 25-year-old Laird may see more opportunities down the stretch for the 8-4 Dolphins.
DECEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Fumbles only carry Laird fumbled his lone nine-yard carry during Sunday's 20-3 win over the Jets.
Impact The Dolphins never lost control of Sunday's divisional victory over the Jets, despite recording a total of four fumbles as a team, but Laird's contribution to that statistic certainly won't earn him praise from the coaching staff. He has just four carries on the season.
NOVEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
2 QBs and stingy defense have Dolphins in playoff contention
The way the Miami Dolphins are playing defense, it doesn’t matter who they have at quarterbackNOVEMBER 30, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Darnold a dud in return as Jets stall again, fall to 0-11
There was some hope coming in for the New York Jets that they could get their elusive first winNOVEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Fitzpatrick, Dolphins keep Jets winless with 20-3 victory
Ryan Fitzpatrick threw two touchdown passes while starting in place of the injured Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins kept the New York Jets winless with a 20-3 victoryNOVEMBER 29, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
One touch Week 11 Laird caught his only target for eight yards during Sunday's loss to the Broncos.
Impact The 25-year-old played 17 offensive snaps during the contest but wasn't much of a factor in the gameplan. Matt Breida returned from injury and played only seven snaps while Salvon Ahmed dominated the backfield work.
NOVEMBER 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Flashes speed in few opportunities Laird had two carries for 19 yards during Sunday's 29-21 win over the Chargers.
Impact Laird served as Miami's No. 2 running back Sunday, but he didn't see much action outside of spelling Salvon Ahmed (21 carries for 85 yards and a score). With Jordan Howard no longer on the team, Laird could see a slightly expanded depth role. On the other hand, both Matt Breida (hamstring) and Myles Gaskin (knee) could return to the backfield over the next few weeks, at which point Laird may become completely uninvolved on offense.
NOVEMBER 17, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Barely involved in narrow win Laird had one carry for a loss of one yard and caught his only target for 17 yards during Sunday's 34-31 win over the Cardinals.
Impact Laird was relegated to a reserve role behind Jordan Howard (10 carries) and Salvon Ahmed (seven carries), even on a day when both Myles Gaskin (knee) and Matt Breida (hamstring) were unavailable. He'll remain off the fantasy radar heading into a Week 10 matchup against the Chargers.
NOVEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Miami Dolphins assistant coach tests positive for COVID-19
An unidentified Miami Dolphins assistant coach tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined, and receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. went on the reserve/COVID-19 list The team still plans...NOVEMBER 6, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dolphins RB Patrick Laird upgraded on Thursday injury report Myles Gaskin comes off the report as he goes to injured reserve.
NOVEMBER 6, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
Puts forth full practice Laird (ankle) was a full participant in Thursday's practice, Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post reports.
Impact With the Dolphins placing No. 1 back Myles Gaskin (ankle) on injured reserve earlier Thursday, top backup Matt Breida (hamstring) trending toward sitting out Sunday's game in Arizona and trade-deadline pickup DeAndre Washington (COVID-19 protocol) not available to make his debut until Week 9, Laird's ability to shake off the minor ankle injury takes on added importance. Assuming he avoids any further setbacks with his ankle heading into the weekend, Laird should be in line to serve as the Dolphins' top pass-catching back against the Cardinals, while Jordan Howard presumably operates as the team's top option on the ground. Laird has been mostly limited to special-teams work in 2020, but he had a degree of fantasy utility in PPR formats while seeing steady action on offense during the final quarter of the 2019 season. Over those final four contests, Laird averaged 56.7 scrimmage yards and four targets per game.
NOVEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Limited participant Wednesday Laird (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald reports.
Impact Laird left last weekend's win over the Rams with the injury. The fact that he was able to open Week 9 as a limited participation puts him ahead of the curve compared to Matt Breida (hamstring), who sat out the session. If Breida is unable to play Sunday against the Cardinals, Laird could be in store for his biggest workload of the season with top back Myles Gaskin (knee) already having been moved to injured reserve.
NOVEMBER 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Big plays help Dolphins beat Rams 28-17 in Tua's 1st start
Tua Tagovailoa threw his first career touchdown pass and then let his teammates take over with a succession of big plays, and the Miami Dolphins stamped themselves as playoff conte...NOVEMBER 1, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Week 8 return in question Laird (ankle) is questionable to return to Sunday's matchup against the Rams, Hal Habib of The Palm Beach Post reports.
Impact The 25-year-old has been deployed mostly as a special teamer during his second active pro campaign, fielding 88 snaps in that department to just 24 total on offense. Laird was banged up during the second half of a spirited Miami performance, having yet to get involved on the stat sheet at his time of departure.
NOVEMBER 1, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Tua Tagovailoa completes first NFL pass to Patrick Laird Miami Dolphins rookie quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completes his first NFL pass to running back Patrick Laird.
OCTOBER 18, 2020 • NFL.COM
Season high in offensive snaps Laird garnered 10 offensive snaps during Sunday's 43-17 win against the 49ers, though he did not register a carry .
Impact With Miami carrying a 30-7 lead into the second half, the 25-year-old back saw a higher-than-usual level of involvement Week 5. In fact, Laird's 10 offensive snaps were more than the eight he had between Weeks 1 and 4 combined. Laird hasn't fielded an offensive touch since recording two receptions in the season opener against New England, but with a matchup against the Jets on the Week 6 docket, he may in line for some more playing time.
OCTOBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Scarcely involved against Jags Laird did not garner any rush attempts or targets during Thursday's 31-13 win against Jacksonville.
Impact The 25-year-old back earned just one offensive snap during Thursday Night Football, securing the vast majority of his work on special teams while Myles Gaskin (22 carries), Matt Breida (three) and Jordan Howard (three) split Miami's RB rushing attempts. Laird hauled in both of his targets for nine yards Week 1 against the Patriots, but he remains without a carry through the early stages of his second pro campaign. Week 4 does not offer a promising matchup for the Dolphins' backfield in general, with Miami opposing Seattle's No. 2 rush defense.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Healthy ahead of Week 1 Laird is not on Wednesday's injury report, Hal Habib of the Palm Beach Post reports.
Impact Laird is healthy heading into Miami's season opener. Just how involved he'll be is a different story, as he's currently buried behind Jordan Howard, Matt Breida and Myles Gaskin on the running back depth chart.
SEPTEMBER 9, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
