Dolphins Stock Report: Miami holds most physical practice of camp
Football’s a game fueled by its physicality, so typically it’s a challenge to evaluate how a team’s performing at practice when the players are in shorts and shells, and nobody gets taken to the ground.
But the beginning of padded practices does provide quite a few hints, and we got that Tuesday when the Miami Dolphins delivered the most physical practice of training camp of camp to date.
On one play rookie tailback Allie Gordon II bulldozed through Miami’s defensive line to convert a third-and-2 with a physical run, showcasing the power and drive that helped him win the Doak Walker Award in 2023, an honor which is given to the nation’s top collegiate back.
Here’s a breakdown of what else happened in Day 6 of training camp.
Top Performers
▪ Tailback Alexander Mattison produced a handful of respectable runs that would have given an onlooker the impression that Miami has a physical rushing attack. Mattison, who has averaged 3.9 yards per carry in his previous six NFL seasons, is competing with rookie Ollie Gordon II for the third back role.
▪ Cornerback Kendall Sheffield, who made it onto Miami’s training camp roster after impressing the coaches on a tryout during rookie camp back in May, appears to be inching close to locking down a starting role in Miami’s newlook secondary. Sheffield, who produced a would-be sack of Tua Tagovailoa on a cornerback blitz, seemingly has a solid mastery of the defense.
▪ Tight end Pharoah Brown appears to be working his way up the depth chart, potentially challenging Julian Hill for the starting in-line tight end role. Brown got a ton of run with the first-team offense, and actually caught a 20-yard pass from Zach Wilson that would have put Miami in the red zone.
STOCK UP
▪ Tua Tagovailoa has been the pillar of stability all training camp. He’s steady every single day, routinely executing the offense no matter what Anthony Weaver’s defense throws at him, and there’s usually one pass worthy of applause per day. That’s the kind of consistency a team needs from their quarterback. It should be pointed out that he’s gone six practice days without throwing an interception. He’s the only quarterback who hasn’t thrown one so far in camp.
STOCK DOWN
▪ Ryan Hayes, a 2023 seventh-round pick who has bounced around the NFL as a member of a couple practice squads, continues to struggle as a backup offensive tackle. Hayes was a turnstile during 1-on-1s, allowing edge rushers to easily get by him, and he struggled to anchor down as Miami’s backup left and right tackle. At this point the Dolphins need to begin the search for a better backup offensive tackle.
Injury updates
▪ Safety Ashtyn Davis, who has been working as the starting safety paired with Minnkah Fitzpatrick while Ifeatu Melifonwu rehabs an injury, suffered a left leg injury midway through practice on a play that didn’t feature any contact. Davis later returned to practice on crutches with his left leg in walking boot.
▪ Cornerback Kader Kohou, the Dolphins’ most experienced cornerback, missed his second straight practice because of the left leg injury he suffered on Saturday.
▪ Cornerback B.J. Adams, who suffered a concussion on Saturday, has been sidelined while he’s in the NFL concussion program.
▪ Safety Dante Trader Jr. continues nursing a soft tissue issue and will be held out of practice for a week, giving him time to heal for Miami’s joint practices against the Chicago Bears next week.
▪ Offensive tackle Bayron Matos, who was hospitalized after the first practice because of a head/shoulder injury, has missed the past five practices.
▪ Tight end Jalin Conyers missed a third straight day of practice because of an undisclosed injury he’s nursing.
▪ Linebacker Dejuan Jackson missed his first practice for unknown reasons.
What they said
“That boy can move,” pass rusher Bradley Chubb said, referring to Dolphins tailback De’Von Achane, who produced 1,399 rushing and receiving yards last year. “I’m glad he’s on our side.”
This story was originally published July 29, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
