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Updates from Week 4
Quarterbacks
The opening drive of Miami’s preseason matchup against Jacksonville almost ended in disaster. Center Connor Williams launched a snap way over the head of Tua Tagovailoa for a loss of 25 yards, leading to an eventual three-and-out. On the next series, Tagovailoa led an 11-play, 74-yard scoring drive. He looked sharp - he didn’t force passes and didn't take any unnecessary sacks. Skylar Thompson went 15-of-24 for 135 yards and two interceptions in the finale, but the coaches saw enough to reward him with a 53-man roster spot, nevertheless. Mike White remains the backup.
Running Backs
Salvon Ahmed showed off his playmaking ability in the final preseason outing, breaking a 42-yard run to set up the night’s first score. The running back room seems to be taking shape with Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson cemented as the starters, De'Von Achane, Ahmed, and Chris Brooks round out the depth chart.
Wide Receivers
The Dolphins retained six receivers on the active roster. The passing game still revolves around Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, the cornerstones. Emerging as a proficient slot receiver and reliable punt returner, Braxton Berrios is positioned to secure the role of Miami's third or possibly fourth receiver. Erik Ezukanma, Cedrick Wilson, and River Cracraft round out the corps.
Tight Ends
The Dolphins’ tight ends offer little fantasy value. Durham Smythe is the starter but is primarily a blocker. Undrafted rookie Julian Hill is the only other tight end to make the 53-man roster, but the team likely will bring in a veteran or two before settling on a Week 1 active roster.
Defense
The defensive line remains a team strength. Defensive end Jaelan Phillips reportedly “cannot be blocked” and is expected to make a big jump this season. The team recently extended Zach Seiler, the unsung hero of the front seven, to a 3-year deal - expect him to remain a big part of the rotation up front. The linebackers are led by Jerome Baker and David Long, who should be among the leaders in tackles this season. Once seen as a strength, the secondary might be a liability for the Dolphins while they wait for Jalen Ramsey and Brandon Jones to recover from their respective injuries.
Returners
Braxton Berrios had an injury scare in the team's first preseason game but has been healthy and is in line to return punts and kickoffs for the Dolphins. Rookie De'Von Achane could also split time on kickoff returns.
Updates from Week 3
Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa’s inconsistent preseason continued as he threw an interception on the first play of the opening drive against the Houston Texans. Tagovailoa bounced back on the next series going 5-of-6 for 61 yards to complete a 14-play, 93-yard scoring drive. Second-year backup, Skylar Thompson, had a great showing against the Texans, going 15-of-22 for 157 yards and three touchdowns. Thompson’s strong summer may still not be enough to displace Mike White as the backup, but he’s done enough to make the roster either way.
Running Backs
Rookie De’Von Achane was carted off the field during the third quarter with an injured shoulder. Fortunately, the MRI ruled out a worst-case scenario, and the coaches are saying he’s “week to week.” After three weeks of practice and two preseason games, Raheem Mostert looks set to get most of the first-team reps, with Jeff Wilson rotating in. As it stands, Mostert, Wilson, and Achane are roster locks, while Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed are fighting for the fourth spot. Ahmed and Gaskin have had impressive performances in back-to-back preseason games. Gaskin ran for 57 yards on seven carries against the Atlanta Falcons, while Ahmed totaled 131 yards on 16 touches against the Texans. The team is unlikely to keep five tailbacks, so there’s going to be a talented veteran on the outside looking in.
Wide Receivers
We got more clarity on the wide receiver depth chart. Robbie Chosen started the preseason matchup against the Texans along with Tyreek Hill. Jaylen Waddle didn’t play, but he’s fine. Braxton Berrios got the third-most snaps, primarily playing the slot in three-receiver sets. Second-year player Erik Ezukanma caught one screen pass on one target for his only game snap in the first quarter. Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Anderson, Berrios, and Ezukanma are likely to make the roster. Cedrick Wilson, River Cracraft, and Braylon Sanders are longer shots.
Tight Ends
Durham Smythe played every snap with the starters against Houston. Mike McDaniel prefers his tight ends to block, which is Smythe’s specialty. But there should be opportunities for chunk plays, given the dynamic nature of the passing attack. Tyler Kroft and Eric Saubert round out the group.
Defense
The defense started the matchup against the Texans backed up inside their red zone under challenging circumstances. The unit held the Texans to a field goal after pressure from linebacker Bradley Chubb forced an incomplete pass by rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud on third and goal. David Long has been penciled in as a starting middle linebacker. Long started the Week 2 matchup against the Texans with an impressive tackle of Dameon Pierce for a loss - he finished the first half with four total tackles.
Offensive Line
Fortunately, a recent injury scare involving left tackle Terron Armstead during joint practices turned out to be less severe than initially feared. Left guard Liam Eichenberg has had a terrible camp so far and is being pushed hard by Robert Jones and Isaiah Wynn. Austin Jackson is doing slightly better at right tackle, but he, too, could be replaced by Wynn or Kendall Lamm. Assuming Armstead is healthy, the Dolphins unit ranks 14th.
Updates from Week 2
Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa has made news multiple times within the last week for having several practices with multiple interceptions. The offense has struggled with miscues and turnovers throughout the past week of practice. Tua had a rough week all around, whether he was getting sacked or struggling with ball placement. Simply put, it was not a good first week of joint practices. Skylar Thompson’s struggles in practice carried over to the preseason game against the Falcons. He finished 10-of-16 for 104 yards and threw two interceptions. Thompson's performance is trending closer toward landing him on the practice squad rather than being the primary backup.
Running Backs
Excitement has been building around rookie De’Von Achane over the last few weeks. Teammate Jaylen Waddle applauded the rookie, saying, "I've seen him run between tackles, break tackles, and stay on his feet, doing a lot of amazing stuff in this camp. I'm thinking, 'Man, he's going to be really good.'" Achane ended joint practice with a walk-off touchdown reception from Thompson. Achane continued to showcase his receiving prowess in the first preseason game, where he led the team with four receptions for 41 yards. Despite his eye-popping moments, it’s important to note that Achane slots fifth on the depth chart. Veterans Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson got the night off along with the other starters, and Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed played in the first quarter with the second-team “starters.”
Wide Receivers
Jaylen Waddle suffered an injury to his midsection and has been held out of practice, but it’s minor and not a concern for the regular season. Robbie Chosen was sidelined against the Falcons due to some injury issues, but he had a productive week of practice leading up to the game. Tyreek Hill and Waddle didn’t play in the game, but Hill dominated the Falcons’ secondary during joint practices.
Tight Ends
Elijah Higgins remains the standout among the tight ends. In his first preseason action, Higgins was second on the team with two receptions for 36 receiving yards on three targets. He had multiple catch-and-run plays, showcasing the athleticism that allowed him to play receiver in college. Durham Smythe is the starter and got the game off alongside the other veterans.
Defense
Channing Tindall continues to impress in camp and during his first preseason action, where he led the team with nine tackles and a sack. Tindall said, "One thing I took from the game is that I'm gaining a full understanding of my role on the field from a playbook perspective, and my anticipation is improving as well. While there's still room for improvement, I'm satisfied with my progress." Noah Igbinoghene has also stood out, flashing the skills that made him a first-round pick. During the 11-on-11 period this week, he intercepted an out route intended for Cedrick Wilson and returned it for a touchdown; it was his second interception in the last two weeks.
Returners
The Dolphins have been using Braxton Berrios and De’Von Achane as their punt and kickoff returners, respectively. Berrios left Miami's first preseason game early to get stitches but is not expected to miss more than a few days.
Updates from Week 1
Quarterbacks
The big concern on everyone's mind is the health of Tua Tagovailoa. So far, every report has been glowing, including that of head coach Mike McDaniel, who noticed a "tangible difference,’ mentioning that "he's got a stronger core, stronger neck, and, in general, he's stronger." Tagovailoa has picked up where he left off last season, showcasing accuracy and seamless connections with his playmakers on deep routes. His consistency has been impressive, steering clear of costly mistakes with no interceptions in full 11-on-11 periods throughout the first eight days of practice. "I've seen various things where he has a little more short-area explosiveness, where you're able to manipulate yourself in the pocket at a more explosive rate. I don't know this to be facts, but it appears by my layman's eye that he has more pitches in his arsenal, like he can layer stuff and drive it just with even more command than he's already pretty adept at, considering his accuracy," said McDaniel. Neither Mike White nor Skylar Thompson has taken hold of the No 2 role yet.
Running Backs
Rumors have been swirling all offseason about the potential addition of veteran Dalvin Cook. Cook has not decided as of now, but the Dolphins' backfield has already experienced a few injury scares in the first week of camp. While nothing serious of note has occurred, it's relevant to point out that Jeff Wilson missed two days of practice and later came back with a compression sleeve on his right leg. Rookie De'Von Achane has been impressive; however, he left practice on Saturday with an undisclosed injury that leaves him "day-to-day.” Raheem Mostert has been the most consistent, including earning the coveted orange jersey given to the best performer from the previous day's practice.
Wide Receivers
As expected, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle have looked great. The competition for the third wide receiver spot has started to heat up. There's a four-man competition going on between Chosen Anderson, Cedrick Wilson, Braxton Berrios, and Erik Ezukanma. Although nothing is settled yet, don’t be surprised if Ezukanma commands more playing time. "Erik can definitely help us this year," receivers coach Wes Welker said. "He's progressing really well, leaps and bounds better than what he was last year." Anderson hasn't seen as many reps as the other players, but when he has, he's flashed the deep vertical speed that made him a viable fantasy option in years past.
Tight Ends
The tight end position might not be stealing the spotlight, but don't overlook rookie Elijah Higgins. Transitioning from a college wide receiver to tight end, Higgins has showcased impressive potential and a commendable commitment to blocking. According to tight ends coach John Embree, "He's doing a lot of good stuff. He has a good grasp of the offensive system. He's able to move around to some different spots. I'm pleased with him." Higgins' athleticism has been evident as he adapts to his new NFL role.
Defense
The secondary has dealt with injury concerns, especially with Jalen Ramsey tearing his meniscus. Reports indicate that he may not be out as long as expected and could return to action as early as late October. Former early-round draft picks Noah Igbinoghene and Channing Tindall have had good starts to camp and have been making plays throughout the first week.
