News, highlights from Dolphins practice on Saturday. Lots of big plays
News, notes and highlights from Dolphins training camp practice on Saturday in Miami Gardens:
▪ Cornerback Cam Smith, who has had an underwhelming camp and is wearing a compression sleeve on his leg, and right tackle Austin Jackson were Saturday’s new additions to the absentee list. [Update: NFL Network reported that Jackson will miss “weeks” with a lower extremity issue, but the hope is he will back for the regular season opener.]
Also out: safeties Dante Trader Jr. and Ashtyn Davis, tight end Jalin Conyers and offensive linemen Bayron Matos.
Jaelan Phillips left practice midway through with a leg injury, but he announced on social media that it’s only a bruise. Dee Eskridge departed on a cart late in practice after holding his hamstring.
Jackson got up slowly after a 1 on 1 drill on Friday. Mike McDaniel has suggested that Trader could be back in a week or so. Davis is out long-term; he was wearing a boot with his foot elevated while driving around on a scooter. Conyers has a leg injury and is out indefinitely.
Mo Kamara, who walked to an ambulance during Friday’s practice, is fine and participated in practice.
▪ Center Aaron Brewer returned to practice, on a limited basis, after missing the first nine days. Brewer, who has been dealing with a leg injury, had done only conditioning work and snapping during the early stages of practice.
Andrew Meyer and Daniel Brunskill and rookie Addison West have been the centers in Brewer’s absence.
Meanwhile, offensive lineman Jalen McKenzie - who joined the team on Tuesday - returned to practice after leaving late in Friday’s session. Cornerback Isaiah Johnson also returned to practice after missing a day.
▪ Retired offensive lineman Terron Armstead was on the practice field for a second day in a row, offering tips to Patrick Paul (his successor) and others.
▪ Linebacker Jaelan Phillips wore the orange jersey bestowed on the top performer in the previous day’s practice. He made a couple of nice plays early in practice, then left with the leg bruise.
▪ Here’s how the first set of 11 on 11s went down: Willie Gay Jr. stopped Tyreek Hill for a tackle for loss on an end-around. Gay has made at least one standout play in every practice.. Storm Duck stopped De’Von Achane for a short gain.... Jaylen Waddle had a 15-yard catch from Tagovailoa... Tagovailoa then delivered a 15-yard pass to Malik Washington...
Zach Wilson misconnected on a deep throw to Tahj Washington... Gay and KJ Britt stopped Alexander Mattison for a short gain...Chop Robinson sacked Zach Wilson... Zeek Biggers and Alex Huntley stopped Mattison at the line of scrimmage...
Quinn Ewers made an extremely impressive pass to Tanner Conner for a 35-yard gain; Ewers scrambled to the left but had great strength to get the ball to Conner on the right sideline... Cornell Armstrong then had a nice breakup of an Ewers pass... Jaylen Wright had a six-yard gain.
▪ Here was the next cycle of 11 on 11 drills: Ollie Gordon II had a 12-yard run, helped by a very good block by Alec Ingold.... Mo Kamara stopped Mattison for a loss on a running play... Zach Wilson had a four-yard pass to Gordon, who was stopped by Ethan Robinson...
Chubb flushed Tagovailoa out of the pocket, forcing a throw-away.... Tyrel Dodson then sacked Tagovailoa when he penetrated unimpeded... Achane dropped a pass from Tagovailoa....
Bradley Chubb stopped Jaylen Wright for a very short gain. Chubb was very good Saturday and has had a good camp...Mattison reeled off an 8-yard run... Wilson overthrew Tahj Washington on a deep pass... Mike Hilton threw up. It’s steamy here... Ewers hit Monaray Baldwin for 23 yards... Matthew Butler sacked Tagovailoa, who then completed a 15-yard pass to Tyreek Hill...
Wilson hit Ezukanma for a 15-yard completion.... KJ Britt forced a Wilson throwaway.
Big play alert: Zach Wilson’s pass popped out of the hands of Tanner Conner, and Willie Gay Jr. snatched it out of the air and returned it for a touchdown.
▪ Some highlights from drills involving only quarterbacks, receivers and corners: Malik Washington beat Ethan Robinson... Jack Jones committed a pass interference on one play but had blanket coverage on another.... BJ Adams committed a pass interference on Erik Ezukanma, who made the catch nonetheless... Tarik Black caught a slant over Isaiah Johnson, who returned to practice...
AJ Henning beat Mike Hilton for a long completion.. .Cornell Armstrong committed a pass inference penalty in coverage on Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.... Ezukanma had a nice catch over Ethan Robinson... Theo Wease Jr. had another good catch..
Tyreek Hill easily beat Storm Duck on a slant...Hilton had blanket coverage on Malik Washington, forcing an incomplete pass... .Zach Wilson had a nice sideline completion to Tarik Black.
▪ Some highlights from the blocking drills between offensive linemen and defensive linemen/edge rushers: Jaelan Phillips had another very good day in those drills before leaving with his leg bruise. Guard Jonah Savaiinaea struggled; Kenneth Grant beat him twice... Backup right tackle has been a problem; Larry Borom and Ryan Hayes have struggled...
Kion Smith, who said he’s playing tackle and guard, had a good day. He could be the best left tackle on the roster... Patrick Paul was solid but not as dominant as past days; he lost a couple of reps to Chubb.. Defensive lineman Matt Dickerson, who has had a strong camp, won most of his reps... Defensive linemen Ben Stille was very solid.... Center Andrew Meyer had mixed results in those drills.
▪ Some big plays from the second set on 11-on-11 drills: Jaylen Waddle took a screen from Tagovailoa for a touchdown, but it was called back due to a false start... Jaylen Wright fumbled on a hit from safety John Saunders Jr....
Grayson Murphy sacked Wilson, who nevertheless threw the ball to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 30 yard TD pass... Baldwin took a slant 25 yards for a touchdown from Ewers... Mattison had yet another long run, covering at least 30 yards.
This story was originally published August 2, 2025 at 10:12 AM.
