Dolphins training camp report: Who impressed, who didn’t and who’s missing. And notes
Notes, highlights and observations from the Dolphins’ training camp practice on Monday:
▪ As training camp enters its fourth week, injuries continue to mount. At least 12 Dolphins missed practice due to injury.
Keep in mind that teams aren’t required to disclose injuries in August, and the Dolphins generally don’t disclose specific injuries until the league requires it beginning Sept. 4.
The tight end room is depleted as Tanner Conner and Jody Fortson Jr. are now out after sustaining injuries during Friday’s game against Atlanta. Connor’s injury, which looked to be in the area of his ribs, will sideline him for at least a few practices. Fortson is missing time with a stinger.
The defensive line was short-handed; Benito Jones missed a third consecutive practice and Neville Gallimore also missed practice on Monday after playing well on Friday. Neither of their injuries were disclosed.
At receiver, Eriz Ezukanma returned to practice, but Jaylen Waddle - who has what McDaniel called a “minor” injury - participated only in parts of practice.
Receiver Braxton Berrios will return soon from his injury, according to Mike McDaniel. He was on the field doing some work on Monday.
But Odell Beckham Jr. remains on PUP and Anthony Schwartz remains sidelined with an unspecified injury.
At running back, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed missed practice. Wilson was injured during Friday’s game. Ahmed remains out with a foot injury. Raheem Mostert has a compression sleeve on his left leg but is practicing.
On the offensive line, center Aaron Brewer remains sidelined with a hand injury. He’s week to week, per McDaniel. Left tackle Terron Armstead worked in individual drills and did some 11 on 11 walk through work that didn’t put him at risk.
At cornerback, Cam Smith remains out, and Ethan Bonner missed practice for undisclosed reasons. Jalen Ramsey sat out practice.
Jaelan Phillips, who was activated off PUP, participated in the early individual stages of practice and looked good, then went inside, and worked with team personnel. Then he was on the field for an 11-on-11 drill done at a walk-through pace, without contact.
Rookie edge rusher Mo Kamara missed a third consecutive practice but Chop Robinson returned to practice after missing Friday’s game.
At safety, Jordan Poyer missed the team 11 on 11 drills for a seventh consecutive practice. But he did individual drills. He has a thumb injury, according to his wife, and his thumb was in a cast on Monday. Jevon Holland also wasn’t working in 11 on 11 drills.
▪ With Brewer out, Liam Eichenberg moved back to center on Monday; he had been competing for the starting right guard job.
Guard Lester Cotton has had a “phenomenal” camp, according to McDaniel. He continues to get a lot of reps. Meanwhile, center/guards Sean Harlow and Jack Driscoll also are in the mix at center and right guard. They played well on Friday.
Rob Jones has been listed on the depth chart as the starter at left guard while Isaiah Wynn remains on PUP recovering from last October’s quad injury.
▪ Tagovailoa was generally sharp with his accuracy, opening 11 on 11 work with a 15-yard completion to Tyreek Hill. A couple of minutes later, he found Tyreek Hill for another sizable gain. Then Tagovailoa hit tight end Jonnu Smith, who extended his arms to make a nice catch.
A bit later, Tagovailoa lofted an 11-yard TD pass in the corner of the end zone to Jonnu Smith, who rose to make a very good catch against Nik Needham.
▪ Linebacker Jordyn Brooks stopped De’Von Achane for a loss in the backfield.
▪ Achane gained four yards on a run, with David Long Jr. on the tackle.
▪ Linebacker Curtis Bolton, who has had a good camp, stopped Jaylen Wright in the backfield.
▪ Chris Brooks scored on a short touchdown run. Driscoll had a nice block on the play.
▪ Emmanuel Ogbah sacked Tagovailoa on a red zone play.
▪ Tagovailoa remained generally sharp in red zone drills, completing a 10-yarder in the back of the end zone to Hill. He was slightly off on a throw to Braxton Berrios in red zone drills, with rookie safety Patrick McMorris doing a good job in coverage.
▪ Tagovailoa dropped an Eichenberg snap that was fine.
▪ With Ramsey and Bonner and Cam Smith out, the rookie cornerbacks - including Storm Duck - got a lot of work. Duck played well on Friday.
▪ Much of the practice was done at a walk-through pace. Tagovailoa took most of the snaps, and Skylar Thompson took a few. Mike White didn’t get any snaps.
