Two Dolphins defensive backs update their status after injuries
Two Dolphins defensive backs who have been slowed by injuries addressed their situations for the first time on Wednesday.
Safety Ifeatu Melifonwu said he began training camp sidelined because of an injury sustained in the days before training camp. He’s now off the non-football injury list and back participating in parts of practice.
Meanwhile, fifth-round rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. said he has been slowed in recent days by a minor hamstring injury. “I’m just trying to get 100%.”
He was limited in practice on Wednesday, and his status for Sunday’s preseason opener at Chicago (1 p.m., CBS 4) is in question.
Melifonwu said his issue “was a little injury I had right before, leading up to camp. I’m feeling good, following the protocol, working myself back and following what the trainers are telling me to do.”
He participated in a few 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He said he “is definitely very anxious” to begin practicing after moving from the Detroit Lions in March. “But you’ve got to be patient and listen to what the trainers tell you to do.”
Provided he’s healthy, he’s the front-runner to start opposite Minkah Fitzpatrick, with Elijah Campbell among others competing.
He said his potential partnership with Fitzpatrick is “interesting. [We] complement each other well. I’m learning off him; he’s learning off me. We are bouncing ideas off each other.”
Melifonwu was productive when he played for Detroit but missed time with a thigh injury as a rookie in 2021; missed seven games with ankle injury in 2022; sustained a broken hand in 2023 but played a full season and was limited to three games last season because of an ankle injury and then a finger injury.
“Obviously it’s very frustrating,” he said. “I’ve got to keep faith in God and people that support me.”
Melifonwu started all three of his regular season appearances last season and 6 of his 17 games in 2023. He has a career 93.7 passer rating in his coverage area, per Pro Football Reference.
As for Marshall, the former Florida Gators cornerback said he has liked what he has put on tape in training camp.
“Sticking with Tyreek [Hill], sticking with [Jaylen] Waddle is helping me, building my confidence,” he said.
How has he grown from his final year at UF? “Tremendously,” he said. “Mentality wise; being much more of a pro, taking care of my body. Watching more film, taking more time to study.”
Though he has been beaten some in coverage, he had one brilliant play — a superb sideline interception, on a Quinn Ewers pass — on the fourth day of training camp.
Marshall – who had only two interceptions in four years at UF, including none the past two years – said he puts no pressure on himself to create turnovers.
“Once I put the pressure on myself, that builds a lot commotion in my head and that’s when something can go [wrong],” he said.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said the lack of picks at UF didn’t concern him.
“In terms of no interceptions, he is a guy that’s around the ball,” Grier said after the draft. “He’s competitive. He had the injury this year which set him back.
He had a couple games where he dropped a couple picks, too, but we had him here at our Miami local day workout, watched him move around.
“He has ball skills; he has hands. So for us, he’s a size corner [at 6-2] with movement skills. It’s up to us and him with our coaching and him working to make those improvements, but we’re very optimistic with his skill set that he has that he will do that.”
Washington, Murphy updates
Edge rusher Grayson Murphy and receiver Tahj Washington have had good camps after missing their rookie seasons with injuries.
Murphy, unprompted, disclosed the reasons why both missed last season. Murphy said he had an MCL knee and Washington had an ACL injury.
This story was originally published August 6, 2025 at 12:12 PM.
