Ronnie Brown also will return kicks
Starting RB Ronnie Brown has now been assigned the added role of kick returner.
Brown, who surprisingly was listed as the backup kick returner to rookie Ted Ginn Jr. on the preliminary depth chart released before the Jaguars game last week, will share the kickoff return duties with his backup, Jesse Chatman, while Ginn will be restricted to punt returner and receiver.
After Thursday's 11-10 exhibition victory over the Chiefs, Coach Cam Cameron explained the move.
"That will probably be our return unit," Cameron said. "We want to focus on Ted on the punt returns and give him a chance. Obviously, that takes a lot of work, and I want to make sure he gets as much as he can. And then I'd like to see Ronnie open up that stride and slam it up in there. I thought he had a nice return."
Perhaps Cameron is concerned about Ginn's 178-pound frame taking a pounding. However, the former Ohio State speedster did average 26.6 yards on 38 kickoffs with two touchdowns for the Buckeyes.
Brown, a much sturdier 235-pounder, has never returned kicks in college or in his two-year pro career.
Chatman averaged 20 yards on six kickoff returns in 2003 and '04 with the Chargers.
Cameron did leave the door slightly ajar for Ginn -- who returned three kickoffs for an average of 18.7 yards against the Jaguars -- or possibly rookie Lorenzo Booker to receive some opportunities in the future.
"At some point in time we'll look at a lot of different combinations," Cameron said.
The last time the Dolphins used a featured running back as a kick returner was Mercury Morris in 1973.
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Ronnie Brown also will return kicks
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