Live blog, Dolphins joint practice with Bears: offense struggles without Tyreek Hill
The news is out.
Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered an oblique injury that will keep him from participating in Friday’s joint practice with the Chicago Bears.
Coincidentally, Hill sustained last year’s wrist injury during a joint practice with the Washington Commanders. He was also limited during the joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year because of the wrist injury, which needed to be surgically repaired at the end of the 2024 season.
His absence forced starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to lean on Jaylen Waddle and the rest of Miami’s receiving corps, which features three receivers — Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Dee Eskridge — whom Tagovailoa need to develop better chemistry with.
All three are pushing to earn significant roles in Miami’s offense this season.
Here’s what else you missed from Friday’s joint practice:
- 12:01 p.m. - Tackle Patrick Paul just got put on the ground during his first rep of one-on-one by edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo. Got far less wins during one-on-ones and struggled for most of the session
- 12:02 p.m. - Tackle Larry Borom has had two good reps of one-on-ones. He’s been improving. Ended up winning more reps than he lost.
- 12:03 p.m. - Center Aaron Brewer was the best Dolphins performer during one-on-ones. He consistently anchored the line.
- 12:04 p.m. - Germaine Ifedi was handling reps at left tackle as Paul’s backup. It’s possible that he’s supposed to help settle down the instability of Miami’s second team offensive line.
- 12:05 p.m. - Wide receiver Erik Ezukanma just got laid out by safety Jonathan Owens in seven-on-seven. Came down with a touch catch and safety couldn’t stop his momentum. He walked off after a bit.
- 12:09 p.m. - Safety Jaquan Brisker just intercepted Tagovailoa on a pass intended for tight end Chris Myrick.
- 12:10 p.m. - Tight end Colston Loveland scored a long touchdown after splitting safeties John Saunders Jr and Jordan Colbert during seven-on-seven.
- 12:14 p.m. - Running back Alexander Mattison fumbled a pass and Dolphins lost possession during seven-on-seven.
- 12:18 p.m. - Linebacker Jordyn Brooks just pulled down an interception on Bears.
- 12:22 p.m. - Cornerback Terrell Smith just broke up Tagovailoa’s pass to Ezukanma.
- 12:23 p.m. - Running back Jaylen Wright is running in quick sand. I just don’t see it. Most of his runs aren’t gaining positive yards.
- 12:24 p.m. - Smith has two breakup on passes vs Dolphins offense. Miami’s clearly struggling with how physical the Bears defense is being
- 12:26 p.m. - Running back Devon Achane with a nice first down run to the left side of the offensive line.
- 12:27 p.m. - Waddle just got laid out by cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and forced a fumble on the screen play. He is on the ground for a couple minutes.
- 12:30 p.m. - Defensive end Montez Sweat with a sack on Tagovailoa. The Dolphins offense is being bullied so far.
- 12:38 p.m. - The Dolphins had a couple of respectable runs to the left side but I can’t tell you exactly how far they were. But everything else was struggle city.
- 12:39 p.m. - Wide receiver Monaray Baldwin dropped a punt and didn’t even try to recover it.
- 12:43 p.m. - Owens and Cornell Armstrong got into a shoving match when the Dolphins corner was doing his gunner work.
- 12:44 p.m. - Linebacker Channing Tindall just lost containment on a Bears punt returner who would have ran it up the sideline for possibly a touchdown. Man is this struggle city.
- 12:45 p.m. - Waddle is back in the action.
- 12:46 p.m. - Washington with a nice jumping catch on the sideline, beating safety Kevin Byard III.
- 12:47 p.m. - The Dolphins offensive line isn’t doing bad. But these WR clearly aren’t used to playing physical CBs. Tons of players being re-routed. Tagovailoa is throwing to spots and no receiver is there. That’s not the norm.
- 12:48 p.m. - Linebacker Noah Serwell with a tackle of Achane in the backfield. Put him on the ground too and celebrated.
- 12:49 p.m. - Wright with a nice first down reception from Tagovailoa.
- 12:51 p.m. - This is football and the Dolphins offense is performing like “you’re not supposed to hit me.”
- 12:52 p.m. - Dolphins offensive line has had 4 false starts and two holding calls.
- 12:53 p.m. - Tailback Ollie Gordon II finally provides a nice physical run up the gut. Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings is down hurt
- 12:54 p.m. - Waddle with a nice downfield reception from Tagovailoa. A defender crossed his face and a flag was thrown. Dolphins signaling like it was offsides.
- 12:57 p.m. - Byard with a finger tip interception of a Tagovailoa pass to Tarik Black. Great pass, bad effort.
- 12:58 p.m. - Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmonds just swung Wright to the ground like a rag doll. Nearly starts a fight.
- 12:58 p.m. - Wright with a nice left side first down run. That seems to be the only thing the Dolphins offense can do consistently.
- 1:01 p.m. - Mattison just fumbled a screen pass.
- 1:04 p.m. - Anyone who tells you the Dolphins offense looked good today is a flat out liar. It’s been BAD. Very bad.
- 1:06 p.m. - The Dolphins defense is fighting the Dolphins defense. Punches thrown. We can only see Jordyn Brooks was involved. Can’t see who else.
- 1:09 p.m. - Ezukamna with a nice downfield catch from quarterback Zach Wilson. About 30 yards on the gain and Sewell tried to closeline him. Cheap play.
- 1:10 p.m. - Wilson scrambles for a 30-yard gain, getting the offense to the six.
- 1:10 p.m. - Tackle Ryan Hayes seemingly hurt his right ankle and got replaced.
- 1:11 p.m. - Smith broke up Wilson’s end zone pass to Ezukamna.
- 1:15 p.m. - This is a joint practice. It’s a reality check. It’s some great coaching film. It’s not the end of the season. This Dolphins team need to show fight the rest of this practice and not lay down.
- 1:25 p.m. - Red zone 11-on-11 begins with Brisker stopping Achane in the backfield.
- 1:27 p.m. - Eskridge and Byard get into a fight. Fight carried on and Aaron Brewer got involved. McDaniel, Tyreek and Terron Armstead had to get involved.
- 1:28 p.m. - Offensive lineman Kion Smith is ending practice in the rookie Jonah Savaiinaea’s spot. We haven’t found him.
- 1:28 p.m. - Coverage sack on Tagovailoa’s unit. Odeyingbo with pressure to flush him out. Dolphins’ first-team offense’s series ends with turnover on downs.
- 1:31 p.m. - Edmunds picks off Tagovailoa in the red zone and runs it back for what would have been a pick 6. That’s Tagovailoa’s third interception today.
- 1:33 p.m. - Most impressive sight of today’s practice was watching Hill carry Eskridge out of the scrum with one hand. Picked him up and talked him off like a toddler.
- 1:33 p.m. - Linebacker Tyrel Dodson with a sack of quarterback Caleb Williams in the red zone period.
- 1:34 p.m. - Armstead just carried cornerback Jack Jones off the field after he seemingly started cramping on a play he was flagged for.
- 1:35 p.m. - Edger rusher Bradley Chubb would have sacked Williams twice on a red zone play.
- 1:35 p.m. -Chubb again flushes Williams out the pocket and forces a throw away.
- 1:36 p.m. - Dolphins trainers are looking at Jones’ left leg. Looks like he cramped up.
- 1:37 p.m. - Wilson fumbled a muffed handoff and defensive end Dominique Robinson recovered it. Dolphins turnover.
- 1:38 p.m. - Offensive lineman Germain Ifedi holding call. Defensive end Austin Booker would have sacked Wilson.
- 1:38 p.m. - Tight end Julian Hill touchdown pass from Zach Wilson called back. Hill had a procedural penalty.
- 1:40 p.m. - Wilson throws a red zone touchdown pass to rookie receiver Andrew Armstrong. Dolphins team celebrates big.
- 1:42 p.m. - Safety Patrick McMorris with a breakup.
- 1:44 p.m. - Defensive tackle Zeek Biggers sacked quarterback Tyson Bagent on the final play of the red zone period to end the drive.
This story was originally published August 8, 2025 at 12:35 PM.
C. Isaiah Smalls II
Miami Herald