Dolphins’ Duke Riley has made a career of being ready; now he’s likely starting for Baker on Monday vs. Titans
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins linebacker Duke Riley has played every game of his three-year tenure with the team but has just five starts in that time.
With fellow inside linebacker Jerome Baker dealing with a knee injury, Riley is expected to start on defense for the first time in 2023 when the Dolphins face the Tennessee Titans on “Monday Night Football” at Hard Rock Stadium.
For Riley, it’s his always-stay-ready mindset as a defensive reserve that has allowed him to find success. After Baker was injured in the second quarter Sunday against the Washington Commanders, Riley had seven tackles and a forced fumble filling in for Baker.
“At the end of the day, that’s just an accumulation of me every day doing what I do at practice and come in ready to play,” said Riley, with a week to prepare to start as Baker has missed the week’s first two practices. “People don’t realize how hard it is to come in off the bench and go right into (the game), while playing every phase of special teams.
“It’s not like I was just on defense. I’m having to cover every kick and then make all the calls and step up like I usually do and make the plays I usually make. It’s just something that I’ve been used to throughout my career. Been a lot of ups and downs and got an opportunity to make good for myself.”
Riley ended up playing 31 defensive snaps for Baker, on top of the 21 he played on special teams as one of the valued members of the third unit.
“Duke’s handled it great,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “Duke’s the consummate team player. Always ready to go when called upon, and a great guy to have on the team.”
Said fellow inside linebacker David Long Jr., who will now play alongside Riley instead of Baker: “He’s been waiting for this, and I’m excited for him to get another opportunity to play ball while Bake gets healthy.”
The Dolphins are determining this week if they can give Riley some relief on his special teams duties while he has to play extensively on defense.
“Like most guys, when the reps (with the first-team defense) go up, you got to be smart in how much guys can handle,” special teams coordinator Danny Crossman said. “Some guys can handle a lot. Some guys, you got to be smart in how you temper them down and what voids and then who you have to fill those voids. It’s an ongoing process throughout the week.”
For Riley’s part, he’s up to play as much as he can.
“I’m prepared to play every snap. I’m prepared to go the distance,” Riley said. “In my mind, I would play every snap of the game. Special teams, defense, and if they needed me on offense, I would.”
What could he contribute on offense?
“Block!” Riley quipped quickly. “Run the ball, catch, whatever they need me to do. I just can’t throw it well. Don’t put me at quarterback.”
Making Riley’s effort more impressive is that he also made the calls defensively on the field, wearing the helmet with the green dot that receives signals from defensive coaches that he relays to the defense. It’s normally Baker’s job when he’s playing middle linebacker.
Either Baker or Riley — only one can wear the helmet with the green dot at once — get the call from linebackers coach Anthony Campanile on the field who is relaying it from Fangio in the booth. Fangio said Riley did a good job communicating to the defense Sunday at Washington.
Baker has only missed one game previously in his professional career, Oct. 31, 2021 at Buffalo.
Riley started that game against the Bills, along with games against the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants that season. In 2022, he started against the Ravens again and later against the San Francisco 49ers.
His reaction when the moment comes where he’s called upon to enter a game off the bench?
“It’s like anything else. It’s another day. I’ve been playing ball my whole life. I’m about to be 30 years old next year. It’s not like I don’t know how to play ball. It’s kind of like do what I’ve been doing my whole life. I don’t even think about nothing.
“Even when I’m on the sideline when I’m not in, I’m watching every single play because, if something happens, I got to know what they’re doing, I got to be aware of whenever they’re coming to the sideline and they’re making checks and we’re seeing different things that we didn’t prepare for. Always being in it and staying in it, even when you’re not in it.”
