A new face stepped through the revolving door in the Miami Dolphins defense this week. NFL.com reported the team signed CB Jonathan Wade on Tuesday.
The fifth-year defensive back is the latest man the Dolphins hope can plug some of the gigantic holes in Miami's porous pass defense, which is currently ranked 27th out of 32 teams in terms of yardage allowed.
Wade was a third-round pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2007. He spent his first three seasons in St. Louis, before splitting time with Detroit and Cincinnati in 2010. He has started only 13 games in his 4-year career, amassing 2 interceptions and 12 passes defended in that time.
He joins a secondary whose performance has been a huge disappointment in 2011. Miami's best cornerback, Vontae Davis, missed Sunday's game due to a hamstring injury. Rookie Jimmy Wilson started in his place, and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning exploited him all day while throwing for 349 yards.
The signing of Wade could mean the Dolphins are not optimistic that Davis could make a speedy return. He has already missed 3 of Miami's 7 games this season, including Sunday against the Giants.
Wade spent the 2011 preseason with the Cincinnati Bengals, but was cut before the season began and has been on the NFL's unemployed list since then.
To make room for Wade on the roster, safety Gerald Alexander was released. The team also placed WR Marlon Moore on the Injured Reserve list.
