After being limited to working with trainers during the first two OTA sessions open to the media, rookie third-round pick Dallas Thomas did some on-field work with his teammates on Monday.

Thomas, the guard/tackle from the University of Tennessee, has been recovering from an injury.

“It’s been real good,” Thomas said of his progress. “It’s a grind every day, just rehabbing it, just getting it going. That’s all it is, it’s a grind.”

Without question, getting cleared to practice was big for Thomas.

“Oh yeah, I was too happy,” Thomas said. “I called my mom, told her that I was going to get to do a little moving around now.”

GETTING A CHANCE

Much like former Texas A&M teammate Jorvorskie Lane a year ago, guard Brian Thomas found himself looking for work in the NFL late in the spring when the Dolphins came calling.

After watching Lane not only make the Dolphins roster but earn a starting job at fullback, Thomas is looking to capitalize on his opportunity as well.

“I’m happy to be here,” Thomas said after Monday’s OTA practice. “I’m ready to play, ready to go. I’ve been working out basically for a full year straight. Now is my chance; I’ve got to take it.”

Thomas didn’t play football in 2012 after spending the previous three years at Texas A&M, where his head coach was Dolphins offensive coordinator Mike Sherman.

Thomas was signed last Thursday after being brought to South Florida for a workout. In signing with the Dolphins, Thomas rejoined former teammates Ryan Tannehill and Jeff Fuller, along with Lane.

“I was real nervous,” Thomas said of his workout. “It’s a nerve-racking thing to try out with your old coach. You’ve got to look good, but I knew basically what he wanted. I just came through.”

FEELING THE HEAT

The Dolphins began a stretch of three days of OTA practices, but many of the players will take some time off on Monday night to catch Game 7 of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and the Indiana Pacers.

A group of Dolphins defensive players — veteran members of the defensive line, along with defensive backs Reshad Jones and R.J. Stanford, and linebacker Philip Wheeler — attended Game 5 at the American Airlines Arena on Thursday night, but Jared Odrick said he’ll be watching the deciding game on television.

“I support the Heat,” Odrick said. “I don’t have a favorite team. I like good basketball. That’s it. Basketball is my first love. I like watching good basketball. I like players.”

New Dolphins defensive back Brent Grimes also plans on watching the game. He wasn’t at Game 5, but did attend two of the games in the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series between the Heat and the Chicago Bulls.

“I’m not going to try to go down there tonight,” Grimes said. “I went to a couple of games, I didn’t get home until about 1, 2 o’clock, and then I’ve got to get up at 6, I’ll just watch it ... HD. It was good, but that traffic afterward I don’t really feel like it, that’s all.

“I like the Bulls. My wife likes the Heat. So we have our little battles in the house.”

TARGET PRACTICE

While Brandon Fields was punting out of one end zone, kicker Dan Carpenter stood at the opposite 47-yard line preparing to kick a ball toward the opposite field goal. Talk about hitting the target.

Fields’ high, booming kick grazed the back of Carpenter as it came down.

While Carpenter turned around to see what had happened, Fields did a mock celebratory fist pump.

PRACTICE HIGHLIGHTS

For the second time in three OTA sessions open of the media, wide receiver Brian Hartline and cornerback Brent Grimes fielded punts. They were joined by Marcus Thigpen, Brandon Gibson and Lamar Miller. … Brian Tyms made a nice diving catch on an Aaron Corp pass during team drills. … Linebacker Lee Robinson and safety Chris Clemons both came up with interceptions during team drills. Clemons’ pick came after Jimmy Wilson tipped a Ryan Tannehill pass. … Wide receiver Marvin McNutt made a nice catch in the end zone on a Pat Devlin pass against tight coverage by Grimes.

THIS AND THAT

The musical selections for the calisthenics portion of practice included “Return of the Mack” by Mark Morrison, “Cash Money Millionaires” by Lil Wayne, and “I Don’t Like” by Chief Keef (featuring Kanye West & Pusha T & Jadakiss & Big Sean. … The practice fields at the Doctors Hospital Training Facility at Nova Southeastern ran east-west today after the lines were redrawn from the north-south configuration for previous OTAs.