The past calendar year been a surreal odyssey for Miami Dolphins wide receiver Rishard Matthews.
Since last summer, Matthews has been shopped around the league, has requested a trade and is now threatening to displace Kenny Stills in three-wide receiver sets.
After opening training camp on the roster bubble, Matthews started ahead of Stills in the third preseason game commonly referred to as the "dress rehearsal" for the regular season.
"This is the most consistent I've ever seen Rishard," offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said last week. "He's made plays in virtually every practice -- down the field, physical plays, fast plays. I'm really proud of him and rooting for him."
Although Matthews is a former late-round pick who has been in and out of coach Joe Philbin's doghouse, he has shown flashes of potential in the past. His career highlight came in Week 10 of the 2013 season, when he hauled in 11 catches for 120 yards and a pair of touchdowns against the Buccaneers.
"He has had a heck of a camp. We came in together, so I've spent a lot of time with him and seen him grow over the past four years," quarterback Ryan Tannehill said, via the Miami Herald. "I would say that over the last six months I have seen the most growth from him. He is growing as a man, growing as a player, and developing his game in all aspects. His consistency is at an all-time high."
As impressive as Matthews has been, it's disappointing that Stills is losing ground after the Dolphins traded linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and a third-round pick for his rights in March.
It will be interesting to see how the wide-receiver rotation shakes out once first-round pick DeVante Parker returns to game action after undergoing offseason foot surgery.
Slot receiver Jarvis Landry has been one of the stars of preseason, the coaching staff is high on Jennings, and Matthews is finally earning his keep.
Because the Dolphins run so many plays in Lazor's uptempo offense, perhaps all five wideouts will see action with the first-team offense by end of the season.
