Here’s what happened at Day 2 of Dolphins training camp: Who impressed, highlights, more
News, notes, highlights and observations from Day 2 of Dolphins training camp practice on Thursday in Miami Gardens:
▪ First, some encouraging news: Offensive lineman Bayros Matos, who was taken by helicopter to Ryder Trauma Center after he was injured late in Wednesday’s practice, showed improvement Thursday.
His agent, Perlesta Hollingsworth, told the Miami Herald on Wednesday night that Matos has “some movement but not full movement in his right leg. It comes and goes.”
The Dolphins announced Thursday that Matos — who remained overnight at Ryder Trauma Center for evaluation and testing — “has movement in all extremities and is in stable condition. He will remain in the care of doctors for continued observation.”
Matos was injured during an inadvertent collision with a teammate. “He ran into a defensive lineman when his head was lowered and took the brunt of the impact,” Hollingsworth said.
▪ Tua Tagovailoa had a pretty good day. He completed a 20-yarder to Jaylen Waddle, but Kader Kohou prevented a completion on a Tagovailoa pass to Tyreek Hill.
But later, Tagovailoa hit Hill for 10 yards, his first catch in the early stages of training camp. And a few minutes later, Tagovailoa hit Hill for 25 yards.
Tagovailoa completed a 22-yard pass to Waddle, who contorted his body to make a nice catch.
Practice ended with a Tagovailoa incompletion to Waddle.
▪ Kohou had very good coverage on an incomplete pass from Tagovailoa to Hill. Kohou disrupted Hill’s route.
▪ Among Thursday’s mishaps: Malik Washington fumbled after a completion, and rookie safety Dante Trader Jr. recovered...
Waddle dropped what should have been an easy completion over the middle....
Penalties torpedoed three straight plays — a combination of false starts and offsides. Five more penalties followed later. There were at least four false start penalties.
▪ De’Von Achane’s speed and burst were on display, with two long runs that could have gone for touchdowns.
▪ Rookie running back Ollie Gordon II made a nifty move to escape a defender on a four-yard run. But another Gordon run was snuffed out by Quinton Bell.
▪ Center Aaron Brewer remained away from practice and was wearing a compression sleeve on his right leg. Andrew Meyer continues to get a lot of work at center.
Also out Thursday: Matos and cornerback Artie Burns, who is feared to have a torn ACL.
Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu, who is on the non-football injury, watched practice from the sidelines. Coach Mike McDaniel said his issue is nothing serious.
▪ Defensive lineman Benito Jones wore an orange jersey bestowed on the standout in the previous day’s practice.
▪ Linebacker Bradley Chubb, who missed last season after three major knee injuries in Week 17 of the 2023 season, was no longer wearing the knee brace that he used during Wednesday’s session.
▪ Tight end Tanner Conner, who had a fumble Wednesday, came back strong Thursday by extending his arms on the sideline for a 20-yard reception from Tagovailoa and then catching a 25-yarder from Zach Wilson.
▪ Linebacker Chop Robinson had a quarterback pressure that could easily have been ruled a sack.
▪ Linebacker Derrick McClendon and defensive lineman Matt Dickerson combined on a sack.
▪ Zach Wilson was pretty good, completing a 20-yarder to Tarik Black and a 25-yarder to Conner.
Erik Ezukanma then dropped a long pass from Wilson; Ethan Bonner and Trader had good coverage, but it probably should have been caught.
Ezukanma failed to haul in another Wilson pass, but there was good coverage on the play.
Wilson overthrew a deep pass to Malik Washington, with Patrick McMorris providing very good coverage.
▪ Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers completed a 20-yard pass to Malik Washington. Ewers and a 15-yard pass to rookie tight end Jalin Conyers in 7-on-7 work. But an errant Ewers pass was nearly intercepted by second-year cornerback Ryan Cooper Jr.
▪ Linebacker Jaelan Phillips stuffed Achane for a 1-yard loss on a running play.
▪ New guard James Daniels, coming off a torn Achilles in Week 4 last season, participated in two sets of team drills, after participating in only one on Wednesday.
▪ The Dolphins are practicing at 9:15 a.m. on Friday and Saturday before taking Sunday off. Saturday’s practice is the first one open to the public.
▪ Jaylen Wright had a nice cut-back on a sizable run. Alec Ingold stood up Jaelan Phillips on the play.
▪ Bonner had a good day, preventing a completion from Tagovailoa to Hill.
▪ Bell drew a holding penalty on Julian Hill.
▪ Mo Kamara had a nice play to stop a running back in the backfield.
▪ Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick appeared to be giving Tagovailoa some tips in an animated teaching point discussion.
▪ Jaylen Wright flashed his speed on a 15-yard run.
▪ Reporters are not permitted to disclose who’s with the first or second teams, but it’s safe to say that the cornerback spot opposite Kohou is an open competition. Several players are getting reps with the starters.
▪ Bradley Chubb destroyed Patrick Paul on a sack.
This story was originally published July 24, 2025 at 10:34 AM.
