The Miami Dolphins will be going through a youth movement in their first season under new head coach Jeff Hafley. So there are several positions on the roster where the team needs young players to step up and develop. But it’s hard to argue any position in Miami needs more help than wide receiver, which makes AJ Henning’s recent training camp performance all that more crucial.
Henning is one of several young wideouts trying to carve out a role on Miami’s offense this summer. The 24-year-old received praise on social media Sunday for a strong day at practice.
“Henning had a DAY today,” wrote FinsXtra on X.
“AJ Henning might’ve been the star of the day — two 50+ yard catches where he beat his man down the sideline,” wrote ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. “One ball from Quinn Ewers, the other from Cam Miller on the final play of practice.”
Tutu Atwell also had a long catch and run TD from Malik Willis, as did Kevin Coleman
“Henning did it again to wrap up practice,” wrote The Sun Sentinel’s David Furones. “He gets a step on Miles Battle, who was tugging at his jersey to keep up, and Cam Miller delivers a perfect deep ball.”
Henning is entering his second season with the Dolphins. The wideout spent a majority of his rookie campaign on the Miami practice squad.
He has yet to make his NFL regular season debut.
Dolphins’ AJ Henning Has Strong Practice at NFL Training Camp
GettyMiami Dolphins insiders commended wide receiver AJ Henning on social media for a very strong performance at practice Sunday.
Whenever a relatively unknown receiver shows off big-play ability, that’s intriguing for teams and fans alike. But Henning shining down the field in Sunday’s practice is particularly interesting because that wasn’t one of his strengths in college.
At Northwestern, Henning averaged 9.8 yards per reception. He topped out at 10.2 yards per catch as a senior in 2024 when he posted 59 receptions for 603 yards. Henning also had four touchdowns.
Henning was more of a possession receiver to give the ball to in space. During 2023, he ran for 110 rushing yards and a touchdown on 27 carries in addition to posting 418 receiving yards.
The wideout began his college career at Michigan in 2020. He transferred to Northwestern after posting just 25 catches and 198 receiving yards in 33 contests for the Wolverines.
Henning to Bounce Back from NFL Suspension
GettyFormer Northwestern wide receiver AJ Henning served a suspension as a rookie for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Henning did well enough as a rookie in last year’s training camp that he earned a post on the team’s first 2025 practice squad. The wideout retained that spot for months until he received an NFL suspension in early December.
On December 4, the league suspended Henning for violating the NFL’s policy on performance enhancing substances.
Fortunately for Henning, the suspension didn’t cost the wideout his future with the Dolphins. After the conclusion of the regular season, Miami signed Henning to a futures contract.
Without Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins have a significant opening at wide receiver. But Henning still faces stiff competition toward a role.
The Dolphins don’t have a major name like Hill or Waddle at receiver this summer, but they’ve stocked piled the position with experienced veterans such as Tutu Atwell and fliers like Henning.
Overall, the Dolphins have 11 receivers on their training camp roster.
To earn even a practice squad role, Henning will need to turn in more practices like Sundays. But after his big performance to end the weekend, he could be eyeing a spot on the team’s active roster.
Dolphins Ex-Undrafted Free Agent WR Turns Heads at Training Camp Practice