New Miami Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead practiced for the first time with his new team at Wednesday’s first session of training camp after sitting out the offseason’s organized team activities and minicamp coming off a knee procedure.

Armstead, a prized free-agent acquisition with three Pro Bowls to his name from his time with the New Orleans Saints, will be limited early in camp, however, as coach Mike McDaniel deemed him one of a “handful” of veterans who will miss portions of training camp practices.

“It felt great, man, being back out playing football — the game we love, the game we enjoy,” Armstead said after Wednesday’s drills. “It felt real good just getting in the rhythm, getting the play call, getting up to the ball and then just trying to execute as fast as we can.”

Armstead, who just turned 31 over the weekend, is a veteran of nine NFL seasons. The priority to have him ready to be the bulldozer of a run blocker and pass protector the Dolphins need will come in keeping his knee healthy and not necessarily extensive training camp reps for the experienced pro. The knee issues caused him to miss nine games in 2021, his final Saints campaign.

“I’ve been doing it for a little while now, so this will be my 10th training camp,” Armstead said. “I always just get to a spot where I feel like I’m ready and that can come a couple weeks, three weeks, whatever. So it just depends on the work, the reps, and then I’m getting used to a new system, new guys next to me, so it might take a little longer.”

Jones to be ready for opener

Like Armstead, McDaniel added that cornerback Byron Jones, who is starting camp on the physically unable to perform list, is “fully expecting to get himself ready for Week 1.”

McDaniel called it a “tremendous opportunity” for third-year cornerback Noah Igbinoghene with Jones on PUP and fellow cornerback Elijah Campbell also on the non-football injury list. Igbinoghene responded on Wednesday with a pass breakup along the sideline for one of the defensive highlights from Day 1 of camp.

“More reps against Tyreek Hill doesn’t hurt anybody, unless they have confidence issues,” McDaniel said.

Jones’ availability to play opposite star cornerback Xavien Howard in Miami’s blitz-heavy defensive scheme will be critical again this season. Igbinoghene has not yet shown the promise of a first-round draft pick after the Dolphins selected him with the No. 30 pick in 2020.

McDaniel also said running back Raheem Mostert will be ready for the opener as he was cleared for practice ahead of camp coming off last season’s Week 1 knee injury.

McDaniel’s message

McDaniel touched on his message to the team and his practice philosophy ahead of his team’s first training camp under his leadership.

“We want full-speed effort and intensity on every rep,” McDaniel said. “There’s no such thing as just going through the motions.”

McDaniel was pleased with how his team reported to camp on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s opening session of drills.

“This group, in particular, I was very excited about the way they came back,” McDaniel said. “Mission-oriented, day-to-day operation, getting better, but a thirst, a competitiveness. They’re fully understanding how much they owe their teammates, the organization, the fans, and they’re owning it. I can feel the energy.”

McDaniel had a pointed message for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa ahead of a critical camp ahead of his third NFL season.

“Deliberate intent on each play,” McDaniel said. “What I really want to see form him is — Tua is super hard on himself — which is a good thing. … I don’t want that to impede when things don’t go his way.”

McDaniel said one thing he has learned about being a head coach for the first time is how much he has to trust others.

“No head coach is able to have success with out an immense amount of people you depend on,” he said.

―The Dolphins announced they signed cornerback Tino Ellis on Wednesday minutes before the first practice.

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