Adam

Shaheen

Shaheen is a former second-round pick who hasn’t played a regular season snap since 2021. Through 55 games, Shaheen has caught 50 passes for 509 yards and seven touchdowns, but could help a Bills offense that’s lost two tight ends in recent weeks. If Shaheen and the Bills do come to terms on a deal, it will likely be a practice squad signing that allows the team to elevate him on game day.

And so ends the strange journey that included Sheehan failing a physical after Miami traded him to the Texans last week. Sheehan totaled 24 catches, 260 yards, and three touchdowns over the past two seasons with the Dolphins. It is possible he is released with an injury settlement in the coming weeks.

Shaheen was sent to Houston along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-round pick on Tuesday, but that trade is now voided. Shaheen will revert back to the Dolphins, but it would be a surprise if he is still in Miami following final cuts.

With no clear-cut star at the position, the Texans bolster their tight end room with Shaheen. He will look to come in and get playing time behind Brevin Jordan and Pharoah Brown. The Dolphins, on the other hand, cut loose some dead weight as they already have Mike Gesicki with Durham Smythe to back him up. After combining for 24 catches, 260 yards and three touchdowns the past two seasons with the Dolphins, Shaheen will look to make the team’s roster to provide help in the run-blocking game.

Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe will handle tight end work with Shaheen out.

Shaheen is the Dolphins’ starter and plays over 50% of offensive snaps. His absence should get Mike Gesicki on the field more. Durham Smythe is the one-for-one replacement for Shaheen’s blocking role.

The Dolphins opened Week 1 in a 2TE set, but that did not include Mike Gesicki. Instead Durham Smythe (38 snaps) and Hunter Long (18 snaps) started the game. Gesicki managed just 21 snaps, one less than Albert Wilson. Shaheen will likely rotate in with Hunter Long as a secondary blocking tight end, but his presence is not good new for Gesicki, whose fantasy value already looked suspect.

Shaheen was placed on the Covid list due to a positive test. As an unvaccinated player, he’ll miss a minimum of 10 days and be sidelined for the season opener. With Shaheen out and Cethan Carter (knee) questionable, Mike Gesicki should see more snaps in base sets.

Gesicki’s 10-day stint on the COVID list likely means he’s not vaccinated against the virus. Fellow Miami tight end Adam Shaheen said last week he won’t be “strong armed” into getting the life-saving vaccine, making Miami’s tight end room prone to missed time in 2021. The ultra-athletic Gesicki is set for another season as the team’s primary pass-catching tight end. Tua Tagovailoa targeted tight ends on 31.1 percent of his pass attempts in 2020, with 17.2 percent of those targets going to Gesicki.

Miami also activated TEs Cethan Carter and Adam Shaheen from the COVID list, but starter Mike Gesicki remains out due to virus-related protocols. Williams is still recovering from foot surgery, and his PUP designation raises questions about when he’ll be ready for action. Even once he is healthy, he may struggle to earn playing time in a suddenly crowded Dolphins receiving corps.