Brian Flores declines to address Watson trade speculation, says Dolphins confident in Tua Tagovailoa
The Dolphins remain interested in Deshaun Watson, and coach Brian Flores on Sunday declined an opportunity to rule out the possibility of acquiring the disgruntled Houston quarterback.
“Any conversations we have or don’t have with other clubs are going to remain internal,” Flores said after Sunday’s preseason win against the Cincinnati Bengals when he was asked directly if the team is pursuing a trade for Watson.
A source told the Miami Herald on Saturday that the Dolphins remained intrigued by the possibility of acquiring the Pro Bowl quarterback but — to this point — have been unwilling to meet Houston’s high asking price (three first-rounders, two second-rounders) given the uncertainty of his legal predicament.
The Dolphins have maintained an interest in Watson all offseason, even mentioning the possibility months ago to a candidate for a position on the coaching staff. Conversations have continued during training camp.
And agent Drew Rosenhaus, who does not represent Watson but is well informed, said on his weekly Fox-WSVN 7 segment on Sunday that “I wouldn’t be surprised to see Deshaun Watson with the Miami Dolphins for the first game of the regular season. The Dolphins are absolutely working on this deal with the Texans. There are obviously holdups with compensation.
“I do think there’s a legitimate possibility the Dolphins will acquire one of the best players in the NFL in Deshaun Watson. If he can clear those legal hurdles, the Dolphins have a franchise quarterback for the first time since Dan Marino.”
On Sunday, Flores was asked three questions pertaining to the starting quarterback ordeal.
When asked if he’s confident in second-year player Tua Tagovailoa, who showed his improvement in an impressive training camp and preseason, Flores concurred.
“I’m very confident in Tua,” Flores said. “He’s done a lot of good things this spring, this offseason, this training camp. He played well last week [against the Atlanta Falcons].”
Asked again if he would outright deny reports of the team’s interest in Watson, Flores responded: “I’m interested in the players that are on our team.”
The FBI and Houston police department are investigating sexual assault allegations against Watson from 10 women. Twenty-two massage therapists also have filed civil lawsuits against Watson. While Watson has not been charged with a crime, nor been suspended by the NFL, his availability for this NFL season is unclear.
Before the allegations emerged, Watson had demanded a trade from the Texans. While he has a no-trade clause in his contract, a source told the Miami Herald he would waive it for the Dolphins.
Watson led the NFL in passing last season and has made three consecutive Pro Bowls. He has had a limited role in Houston’s training camp and is fourth on the depth chart at quarterback.
Doaks shines in return to Cincinnati
Rookie running back Gerrid Doaks entered the preseason battling for one of the final running back spots, but may have solidified a spot after a two-touchdown performance against the Bengals.
The University of Cincinnati product and a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft scored the first touchdown of the game on a 3-yard run. He found the end zone again just before the end of the first half with a 1-yard score. Doaks finished the game with 16 touches for 56 yards and two touchdowns.
“Being from Cincinnati, being a big playmaker there, it was great,” Doaks said after the game. “It felt good to be given the opportunity and being heavily involved in the game.”
For the entire preseason, Doaks finished with 26 rushes for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
Last season for the Bearcats, Doaks rushed for 673 yards and seven touchdowns on 144 carries in a shortened 2020 campaign that ended with an appearance in the Peach Bowl. Doaks was a 1st-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2020.
Doaks said he feels good going into final cuts this week. “I had a pretty good camp,” he said.
Doaks earned the start as the Dolphins sat many of their presumed starters. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and second-round draft pick guard Liam Eichenberg were among those who did not dress for the final preseason tune-up in Cincinnati.
Backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett did not start the game either, reserving the signal-calling duties to Reid Sinnett.
Eichenberg was expected to see snaps against Cincinnati until sustaining an injury in Thursday’s practice. He was not seen in Friday’s open session. Left guard Solomon Kindley was the only presumed starter on the offensive line who saw action on Sunday.
Also held out was first-round draft pick Jaylen Waddle, while the Dolphins’ other rookie first-round pick, Jaelan Phillips, started at outside linebacker. Rookie safety Jevon Holland, who did not practice this week because of an undisclosed injury, also did not play.
On both sides of the ball, most starters were held out.
Notably, for the Bengals, former first overall pick quarterback Joe Burrow started his first game since tearing his ACL in last season’s Week 11 matchup against the Washington Football Team. In the first series, the Dolphins defense forced a three-and-out. Burrow only attempted one pass, an incompletion to rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow did not come back out for a second series, handing off duties to backup quarterback Brandon Allen.
This story was originally published August 29, 2021 at 5:01 PM.
