Dolphins training camp report: Highlights, news, notes from Day 4
News, notes and highlights from practice No. 4 of Miami Dolphins training camp, the first one attended by fans in Miami Gardens:
▪ Tua Tagovailoa was sharp, opening 11 on 11 drills by completing a 70-yard pass to Tyreek Hill, beating Elijah Campbell.
The play could have been ruled a sack, but Tagovailoa escaped the pocket and delivered the ball 50 yards in the air. Hill ran the last 20.
A bit later, Tagovailoa threw a short pass to Alec Ingold, who took it in for a 15-yard touchdown in red zone drills.
Also in red zone drills, Tagovailoa lifted a gorgeous TD to Raheem Mostert in the corner of the end zone, over Kader Khou.
And Tagovailoa had a short TD pass to perennial camp star Salvon Ahmed in red zone drills and also made a nice throw to Durham Symthe.
Tagovailoa also threw some passes that were well-defended, including one that Cam Smith knocked away.
▪ Mike White, competing with Skylar Thompson for the No. 2 job, made his best throw of camp on his first attempt on Sunday: a 50 yard pass to Jaylen Waddle, beating Keidron Smith.
In red zone drills, White also lofted a beautiful throw to Myles Gaskin in the corner of the end zone for a 10-yard TD, beating Channing Tindall.
White overthrew two passes, including one to Waddle with Eli Apple in coverage.
Then White couldn’t connect with Cedrick Wilson Jr. in a red zone drill, with Elijah Campbell in coverage.
The frustration with White is he will make several good throws, then a bad one, then a good one, then a couple bad ones. But he hasn’t thrown an interception in camp after throwing a few in OTAs. So that’s a positive.
▪ Thompson, who had outplayed White the first three days of camp, was on target with a 15-yard pass over the middle to Braxton Berrios.
Though Thompson was far from perfect Sunday, he threw a TD pass to Hill in red zone drills.
▪ Isaiah Wynn was removed from the active/physically unable to perform list, meaning he can begin practicing immediately.
Wynn was injured training for the season and missed the first three practices of camp.
He offers potential competition, or depth, at left guard and right tackle. He also can back up Terron Armstead at left tackle, with Kendall Lamm and Cedric Ogbuehi also options for that job.
Armstead remains on the active/PUP list but is expected back for the start of the regular season.
Also still on PUP: cornerback Nik Needham (Achilles injury last October) and tight end Tanner Conner (undisclosed). Needham was working on the side Sunday.
▪ Running back Jeff Wilson Jr., cornerback Keion Crossen and receiver Freddie Swain weren’t spotted at practice.
Wilson’s absence was precautionary; there’s no indication of anything serious.
Crossen has an undisclosed injury. Swain is dealing with a minor medical issue.
▪ Cornerback Eli Apple, who agreed to terms on Saturday, was dressed on the field and wearing No. 33. He received some defensive snaps on Sunday.
▪ Jaelan Phillips, who missed two practices with an undisclosed injury, was back on the field and wreaked havoc.
He had a tackle for a four-yard loss early in practice and then knocked down a Thompson pass. Then he sacked Tagovailoa.
▪ Defensive backs Brandon Jones and Trill Williams were in non contact jerseys, as the Dolphins continue to be cautious in their return from ACL injuries last season. Both practiced fully on Wednesday and some since.
▪ Kohou wore the orange jersey given to the best player in the previous day’s practice. On Sunday, he broke up a pass intended for Cedrick Wilson Jr.
▪ Rookie running back De’Von Achane showed his speed with a long burst, then eluded a couple defenders for a touchdown in red zone drills.
▪ Linebacker David Long stuffed Chris Brooks at the line of scrimmage. Long has looked good the past couple of practices.
▪ Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah stuffed Myles Gaskin on a red zone run. Later, Ogbah had a coverage sack. Miami Hurricanes rookie Mitchell Agude had another sack and continues to flash.
▪ Rookie Elijah Higgins caught a short pass in red zone drills but couldn’t get the ball in the end one. Later, a Tagovailoa throw intended for Hill was inadvertently deflected by Higgins, who tried to catch it.
He’s going to need some time in his transition from college receiver to NFL tight end.
▪ Andrew Van Ginkel broke up a Thompson pass into the end zone and was active in the run game, stopping Raheem Mostert at the line of scrimmage. Van Ginkel has said he’s playing both inside and outside linebacker.
▪ Ahmed continued to run after Long contacted him on the sideline; that displeased a few defenders but nothing escalated beyond a couple shoves.
▪ Christian Wilkins applied pressure on Tagovailoa in a red zone drill, forcing a throw-away.
▪ Rookie Cam Smith broke up a low throw to Braylon Sanders. Smith and Campbell came close to intercepting Tagovailoa passes but had to settle for pass breakups.
HIGHLIGHTS OF WHAT HAPPENED IN ONE ON ONE QB/WR/DB MATCHUPS
Tyreek Hill beat Noah Igbinogehene on a short hitch route...
Robbie Chosen beat Justin Bethel on a go route...
Erik Ezukanma beat Cam Smith on a comeback route. EZ made a diving catch and held on despite tight coverage from Smith...
Hill gave Kohou a little stutter on a comeback route but Kohou had great coverage and kept him stacked along the sideline. The pass was incomplete...
Tagovailoa threw to Ezukanma for a deep go route TD against Tino Ellis.
This story was originally published July 30, 2023 at 12:17 PM.
