Absences by some players creates opportunities for youngsters and journeyman to showcase themselves during offseason programs, and it seems Duke Riley has used those snaps to showcase his ability for the Miami Dolphins defense.

Riley, who carved out a contributing role for himself late last season as a coverage specialist, has been an active linebacker in each of the practice sessions the media has attended the past month, and during Tuesday’s session he picked off a Tua Tagovailoa pass intended for tight end Hunter Long and ran it half the length of the field for a pick-six.

Riley, a former LSU standout who the Dolphins re-signed this offseason to a one-year deal that could pay him just short of $3 million, started three games and contributed 26 tackles in 2021. He also blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown on special teams.

There is potential for Riley, whose fiancé experienced a complicated pregnancy for the birth of his third child, to do more in 2022 because he now has more familiarity with the Dolphins defense. His elevation would allow Jerome Baker to play more snaps at outside linebacker.

Seeing Riley pull down interceptions like the one he corralled on Tuesday also indicates that he could have more put on his plate as a coverage specialist.

More observations

Overall, Tuesday’s session was reminiscent of a Friday walk through practice, or a third-teamer scrimmage. The Dolphins defense was practicing at three-fourth’s speed, wasn’t blitzing much, and mostly backups were on the field because numerous veterans — like Pro Bowl receiver Tyreek Hill — were either absent or sitting out the 11-on-11 period.

With two more practices before camp wraps on Friday, this is what’s to be expected from an NFL offseason program.

Some of the other standouts for the day were receivers Cody Core and River Cracraft.

Core caught two deep passes, but neither one of them would have counted if the action were live.

The first was deep throw touchdown pass from Tagovailoa, which featured no defender within 30-yards of the fourth-year receiver. There’s a good reason for that considering defensive tackle Raekwon Davis — who earned the red jersey for standing out in Monday’s practice, and played plenty of country music — was off-sides, and the play was ruled dead on the snap.

But nobody told Core, and Tagovailoa threw it anyway (why not).

Core’s second deep reception was from backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the final 11-on-11 period, but that wouldn’t have counted either because linebacker Sam Eguaveon would have sacked Bridgewater before the throw, which occurred while he was scrambling to his right.

As for the plays that did count, Cracraft caught three passes during the first 11-on-11 period. It’s clear why Miami’s coaches brought him in from the 49ers as a free agent because of his craftiness working between the hash. …

Linebacker Channing Tindall, the Georgia standout who Miami selected in the fourth round if the draft this spring, made a couple of plays for the first time since we’ve been in attendance. He broke up a pass to tight end Cethan Carter. Tindall is the rookie Miami’s expecting the most from, but it seems as if his head is swimming due to everything he’s trying t process at this point because we’re not seeing the speed he’s known for. But this is common for all rookies. …

Tailback ZaQuandre White, whom coach Mike McDaniel mentioned as one of the top standouts when it comes to the undrafted rookies, made his usual one-good-run-per-day on a cut back to the right side that would have produced at least 20 yards. It’s pretty clear that White, a standout at South Carolina, has good vision.

If I had to guess, White has a decent chance of being on Miami’s 53-man regular-season roster if he can produce on special teams, and has a strong showing during the exhibition season. This offense is known for making the most out of undrafted tailbacks. …

Speaking of tailbacks, Salvon Ahmed caught a wheel route that might have been a touchdown because a defender was diving at him on the play and failed to get him out of bounds along the left sideline. …

Line backer Jaelan Phillips delivered a sack on Tagovailoa during one of the 11-on-11 periods, but this wasn’t a day where the offensive line got beat up too much. …

Linebackers Deandre Johnson, an undrafted from the University of Miami, and Darius Hodge, also delivered would-be sacks.

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