Dolphins Stock Report: Rookie quarterback shines
The first three days of training camp hasn’t produced a touchdown score, or an interception.
While there’s been plenty of activity at the line of scrimmage — even though the team won’t put on pads until next Tuesday — the passing game has been relatively quite for the first three days.
Hard to say whether that’s an indication of the offense’s slow starts, or whether Miami’s secondary is better than what people expect from a unit that only has two established NFL starters on the roster.
Here’s a breakdown of what else happened in Day 3 of training camp.
Top Performers
▪ Inside linebacker Willie Gay Jr.: Gay is the type of player who simply has a knack for making plays. He found himself around the ball regularly, and a perfect example of this was the deflected pass he nearly pulled in for an interception during the first 11-on-11 period of practice. Gay, who has started 55 NFL games in five seasons, is instinctive, and has a knack for creating pressure when he blitzes.
▪ Outside linebacker Derrick McLendon: This former Colorado standout spent all last season on Miami’s practice squad, and his early showing of camp makes it clear that spot was earned weekly in practice. During Friday’s practice the 6-foot-4, 250-pounder had a sack, and recovered a fumble.
▪ Cornerback Storm Duck: Duck, an undrafted rookie who played 358 snaps on defense last season, has had a solid showing during training camp’s first week. He broke up a couple passes on Friday, and has been Miami’s second most consistent cornerback, behind Kader Kohou.
STOCK UP
▪ Quinn Ewers is nowhere near where he needs to be to push Zach Wilson for the backup job at this time. The former University of Texas starter is still mastering the playbook, and adjusting to the speed of the game. But the Dolphins’ 2025 seventh-round pick has a solid day on Friday, especially in the final period when he connected with Dee Eskridge on a 20-yard pass that was perfectly placed, and then hit Tanner Conner in the seam for another 15-yard gain. Both were tight-area throws. It would have been interesting to see how Ewers finished that series, but practice was called after Conner’s reception. Clearly, coach Mike McDaniel was trying to end the day on a high note for the offense, which has gotten off to a slow start.
STOCK DOWN
▪ Ollie Gordon II committed the cardinal sin for any running back, fumbling at the end of a run. The ball was clearly punched out by a defender, but Gordon’s upright running style will likely make him a target for punched balls all season. Gordon is competing with Alexander Mattison for the role as De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright’s backup.
Injury updates
▪ Center Aaron Brewer hasn’t practiced for the past three days because he’s nursing a soft tissue injury in his right leg. McDaniel said the only reason he wasn’t put on the physically unable to perform list is because they want him and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to be able to work on snapping together on the field. McDaniel expects Brewer back “sooner than later,” but the Dolphins will likely be guarded with how much he works, getting him ready for the regular season.
▪ Bayron Matos, a second-year offensive tackle from the Dominican Republic, who was airlifted to Ryder Trauma center after sustaining an upper body injury in Wednesday’s practice, has mobility in his extremities and is getting better every day.
▪ Dante Trader Jr., a Maryland safety Miami selected in the fifth- round, missed Friday’s practice for reasons unknown.
What they said
“It’s slow progress. Coach Lem says he’d rather see me respond to adversity.....When you watch TV you think it’s easy going right to left, but it’s a huge difference for me, pushing off my right leg,” rookie offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea said about the encouragement he’s gotten from Lemuel Jeanpierre, the Dolphins’ assistant offensive line coach, regarding his move to left guard.
This story was originally published July 25, 2025 at 12:09 PM.
