ARLINGTON, Texas -- Dan Carpenter had as good of a five-minute stretch Wednesday as you can reasonably expect from a kicker.

Late in the first quarter of the Dolphins’ exhibition game against the Cowboys, Carpenter banged through two field goals and, even more impressively, recovered a fumble.

Carpenter, who will be relied upon plenty if the preseason is any guide, began his impressive stretch with the easiest part, nailing a 21-yard chip shot.

On the ensuing kickoff, Marlon Moore — one of eight Dolphins receivers likely on the bubble — jarred the ball loose from Cowboys returner Teddy Williams. Somehow, Carpenter made his way to the bottom of the scrum and emerged with the pigskin.

Despite taking over in Dallas territory, the Dolphins went three and out, setting up a 53-yard field goal by Carpenter that had plenty of distance.

Carpenter has been perfect this exhibition after missing two long attempts in the opener.

Bubble wrap-up

Another fringe player doing his best to make the team ahead of Friday’s cuts: Jorvorskie Lane.

For the second week in a row, Lane, the bowling ball of a fullback, flattened a would-be tackler after catching a pass in the flat. This time, Cowboys cornerback Lionel Smith had the misfortune of being in Lane’s way. Smith left the game with a concussion.

Also apparently on the right side of the bubble: Jamaal Westerman, Jonathan Freeny and Jimmy Wilson. All three played with the first-string kickoff and kick return units.

Westerman also combined with Olivier Vernon for a sack.

Marcus Thigpen was the deep returner on all four first-half kickoffs. He returned two.

Johnson’s apology

Chad Johnson admitted to his 3.7 million Twitter followers Wednesday that he “messed up,” adding that he “made the bed, and now [he has to] lay in it.”

Until Wednesday, Johnson had kept a relatively low Twitter profile since his Aug. 11 arrest on domestic abuse charges. Johnson allegedly head-butted wife Evelyn Lozada after she found a receipt for condoms in his car. The Dolphins cut Johnson the following day.

Johnson is due in court on Sept. 13 for his arraignment.

“I got to start life over and create a new one,” Johnson also wrote.

Odds and ends

• Dolphins scratches: QB David Garrard (knee), OL Nate Garner (head), OL Lydon Murtha (foot), OT Jake Long (leg), DT Tony McDaniel (leg), DE Derrick Shelby (shoulder) and WR Brian Hartline (leg).

•  Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett were in uniform, but did not play. Gary Guyton and Austin Spitler started in their place. Spitler had a team-best five tackles in the first half.

• The Dolphins’ captains Wednesday were Matt Moore, Tyrone Culver and Jason Trusnik.

Trusnik left the game in the second quarter with an apparent right leg injury.

• The Cowboys outgained Miami 206-120 in the first half, converting four of eight third downs.