Here’s what happened at Day 3 of Dolphins training camp: Who impressed, highlights, more
News, notes, observations and highlights from Day 3 of Dolphins training camp on Friday:
▪ The quarterback play has been solid and mostly error-free through three days. Tua Tagovailoa, Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers haven’t thrown any touchdowns, but they haven’t throw any interceptions, either.
Tagovailoa was sharp; he opened practice with a 20-yard completion to Jaylen Waddle, with Kader Kohou in coverage. He then completed a short sideline pass to Tyreek Hill, with nobody in coverage.
Tagovailoa completed a 40-yard pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, but Elijah Campbell slowed down in coverage for an unknown reason. That was followed by short-to-intermediate completions to De’Von Achane and Pharoah Brown, the latter on a play in which Grayson Murphy flushed Tagovailoa out of the pocket.
▪ Rookie safety Dante Trader Jr. was not spotted at practice. Offensive lineman Bayron Matos also remains away from the team following his hospitalization earlier this week. And center Aaron Brewer remains sidelined by a soft tissue injury.
▪ Kohou wore the orange jersey bestowed on the player who excelled in the previous day’s practice.
▪ Willie Gay Jr. broke up a pass by Zach Wilson; it would have gone for a pick-six if Gay had held onto the interception. Wilson misfired on a subsequent pass but then completed a 20-yarder to Tyreek Hill and then had a 10-yard completion to Dee Eskridge.
Wilson later completed a 15-yarder to Tarik Black, with Ethan Bonner in coverage.
▪ Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers has had a good and clean first three days of camp.
On Friday, he had a 20-yard completion to receiver Theo Wease Jr. and a 12-yarder to A.J. Henning. Ewers then made a good throw to Eskridge for a sizable gain, with John Saunders in coverage. Then Ewers hit Tanner Conner for 15 yards.
▪ Linebacker Jordyn Brooks stopped Achane for a loss on the first running play of practice. Then linebacker Tyrel Dodson stopped Jaylen Wright in the backfield on the next play. The running game finally got going on the next play — a 10-yard run up the middle by Wright.
Alexander Mattison then had a long, physical run to the left side; Cam Smith lost containment on the play. Rookie Ollie Gordon II runs with physicality; he had a 12-yard run in 11-on-11 work.
But at least five running plays went for loss or no gain. Among them: Zach Sieler stopped Achane in the backfield after swerving past Austin Jackson.
▪ Linebacker Derrick McClendon had a sack, his second in two days. McClendon later jumped on a fumble by Gordon. Zeek Biggers also was involved in the play.
▪ The cast of “Love Island,” a reality TV series that streams on Peacock, attended practice at their request. The first practice open to fans is at 9:05 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are free but must be secured on the team website.
▪ First-round pick Kenneth Grant had good penetration in the backfield on a running play; he has flashed early in camp. Grant flushed Tagovailoa out of the pocket, and Storm Duck broke up Tagovailoa’s pass to Achane.
▪ Duck, who has the opportunity to win a starting job, also broke up a pass to receiver Malik Washington.
▪ After a slew of false-start penalties on Wednesday and Thursday, there were at least four more Friday, with offensive lineman Ryan Hayes committing one of them.
▪ Hill dropped several punts, but the Dolphins are unlikely to use him in that role. Waddle, Malik Washington and rookies Theo Wease Jr. and Henning also were involved in returns.
▪ Linebacker Channing Tindall had a second good play in three days, stopping Mattison at the line of scrimmage on a rushing attempt.
▪ Rookie safety John Saunders Jr. broke up a pass to Tanner Conner.
▪ Mohama Kamara stopped Achane in the backfield. The second-year edge player is trying to make a move.
This story was originally published July 25, 2025 at 10:23 AM.
