MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The butterfly effect of Aaron Brewer’s hand injury is that it messes up the Miami Dolphins‘ training camp plan for offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg.
The Dolphins had wanted to give Eichenberg an entire camp at right guard, but after Brewer’s injury, they shifted him back to center, where he played a ton of snaps last year.
Miami Dolphins OL Liam Eichenberg Is on the Move (Again)
Eichenberg’s career path has been “jack of all trades, master of none,” and that’s impacted his performance. That’s a tough existence for any player, particularly one entering a contract year.
So while Eichenberg is willing to do “what the team needs,” he also hopes Brewer makes a speedy recovery for many reasons.
“[Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry] said ‘Start snapping.’ I said, ‘All right,'” Eichenberg said with a chuckle Tuesday. “So that’s how it is. But I think he knows where I stand, and I think this organization does too.”
Asked if it was dispiriting to be switching positions yet again, Eichenberg replied:
“No, I don’t think so. There’s stuff at center that’s helped me improve at guard. Having me move back into center has helped me kind of get my hands going quicker. And whenever I do go back to guard, I think that it’ll help me in the long run.
“You know, at the end of the day, I want to be out there, and I hope this team wins and, you know, if they need me to play center or guard or wherever, I’ll do it.”
Eichenberg has played all five positions on the offensive line in his career, with mixed results. But with Isaiah Wynn still a big-time injury question mark, Eichenberg seems on track to be a Week 1 starter for the Dolphins in 2024.
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Plus, there’s a giant difference in perceptions regarding his skill between those inside the building and those outside of it. While the fan base has made Eichenberg a favorite target for criticism, the Dolphins, in word and deed, keep telling the world that he’s a valued member of the organization.
“Liam Eichenberg has developed so much in the past couple seasons with us and has done so by being a master of multiplicity,” Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said. “He’s really found ways to not only contribute, produce but then also improve whatever position he’s playing.
“That versatility we’ve had to utilize for a multitude of different reasons, and he’s found a way to be good at that.”