Dolphins’ Fangio on stopping Kelce, Mahomes: ‘Nobody has figured that out’; OL Hunt misses practice again

FRANKFURT, Germany — The Miami Dolphins defense has several challenges in front of it against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in Germany. Prime among them will be containing quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his connection with tight end Travis Kelce.

With six-time Pro Bowl, three-time All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey returning to action in last Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots, he’s a possibility in coverage against Kelce, mostly based on how many different spots Kelce can line up in.

“He lines up all over the place, so occasionally, that could happen with him and Jalen,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said ahead of the team’s Thursday drills in Frankfurt. “He’s tough. He’s a great tight end. He runs really good routes. He and the quarterback have great karma together, especially as plays extend. He’s tough to stop totally there. He’s caught over 100 balls, how many years in a row? So, really, nobody has figured that out.”

So Ramsey, who returned three months after tearing a meniscus in his left knee, could factor in when Kelce moves around. Can he move around himself two games into his return to the field or will Fangio stick him on the boundary?

“I think at some point — possibly this game — but at some point we’ll start moving him around,” Fangio said. “I think it’s important that he gets his legs underneath him and feels comfortable out there.”

Although Ramsey played well in more reps than the Dolphins planned for his first game back, Fangio said Ramsey is “not back to where he wants to be or will be,” but progressing toward it.

The tenured defensive mind is looking forward to the possibility of Ramsey and four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Xavien Howard lining up opposite each other for the first time, with Howard eyeing a return after missing two games with a groin injury.

“If we can get that done, that would be good,” Fangio said. “That’s what we’ve been shooting for. We knew it was going to take a while with Jalen’s injury, but through Jalen’s fast recovery and beating the odds, it’s happening earlier.”

Fangio also gets safety Jevon Holland back from a one-game absence in concussion protocol. He called him the “quarterback of the secondary.”

That secondary — and defense, as a whole — will have to deal with Mahomes’ abilities on off-schedule plays.

“Just trying to keep him from having an unbelievable game,” Fangio said. “He’s always played well. Try and hopefully limit the improvised plays, where he starts scrambling around, making great throws on the run, guys getting open. Him pulling the ball down and running it himself for critical first downs. He’s really tough. You got to defend the play they call in the huddle, which is hard enough, then you have to defend the play that he creates after the first one breaks down.”

Hunt misses Thursday

Dolphins right guard Robert Hunt, who is dealing with a hamstring injury, missed a second straight practice Thursday.

He was seen on the side of Miami’s team stretch watching in his No. 68 practice jersey, but then he went inside at PSD Bank Arena, the Dolphins’ practice facility in Frankfurt for the week.

The Dolphins have several moving parts on the offensive line ahead of Sunday’s international showdown with the Chiefs, with Hunt’s status in more doubt, center Connor Williams looking to return to the starting lineup from his groin injury and left tackle Terron Armstead returning to practice Wednesday, while it remains in the balance whether he’s activated off IR before Sunday.

“We’ll see how the week plays out. We’ll play the guys that best help us win,” Miami offensive coordinator Frank Smith said ahead of Thursday drills. “A lot of variables, but I think, ultimately, it goes back to what we talked about in the offseason, how we train the group and we try to have versatility and have guys who flip between positions. As we bring guys back and work between variables, those are all contingencies and things that we worked on.”

The good injury news Thursday for the Dolphins is that running back Raheem Mostert and tight end Durham Smythe both returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s session nursing ankle injuries.

Coach Mike McDaniel and Smith will have decisions to make on how to balance the backfield workload between Mostert and fellow tailback Jeff Wilson Jr., after Wilson saw an uptick in reps last Sunday against the Patriots, his second game back off IR.

“Ultimately, as we get ready for the game, our process, the guys who are ready to play and ready to contribute are the ones we’ll see on the field,” Smith said.

Dolphins safety Brandon Jones was not seen at Thursday’s practice in Germany, still back in South Florida working through concussion protocol.

This story will be updated.