Dolphins’ McDaniel updates injuries, explains why two players apologized to team
Notes from Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel’s news conference following Sunday’s 24-24 preseason tie against Chicago:
▪ McDaniel said he kept out starters who were dealing with “minor” injuries, which explains why Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips were held out. “It wasn’t worth risking further setbacks,” he said.
Starters Tyreek Hill (oblique), Alec Ingold (concussion protocol) and Austin Jackson (lower-leg injury) also did not play.
McDaniel said he played the other starters “because I thought our team could benefit. I told our guys regardless [of results], it would be one series” for many of them.
He said he hasn’t decided who will play in next Saturday’s 1 p.m. preseason game at Detroit but said he expects starters to participate in one of the final two preseason games.
Also out Sunday: cornerback Cam Smith, safeties Ashtyn Davis and Dante Trader Jr., offensive lineman Bayron Matos and center Andrew Meyer.
▪ As for injuries that happened Sunday, McDaniel said running back Alexander Mattison — who walked off after landing on his head — is “doing well” and is dealing with “neck and shoulder soreness. We will find out more in the next couple of days.”
He said Mattison is not in concussion protocol.
McDaniel said safety Elijah Campbell’s injury, which caused him to leave the game, does not appear to be serious.
▪ McDaniel, on the Tua Tagovailoa-led first possession that ended with Jaylen Wright unable to score on three rushes from the Bears’ 2-yard line:
“There were some really good things” in that drive, he said. “De’Von [Achane] was running the ball very well. I liked the way Tua [Tagovailoa] was playing there. There was a chance to get live goal-line work. I really wanted the reps.
“I wanted the reps on pad level, wanted it on tape. The idea is you get better from practice and preseason. In those situations in the regular season, you score. It wasn’t good at the end. [It was good] all the way up to it.”
▪ McDaniel said the two players who fought each other during Friday practice (Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson) “took the time to apologize to the team. I knew the people engaged in it, they came up to me and explained to me what happened. Things happen in life and football...
“When you have people on their own accord want to talk to the team and explain what happened, it brings your team closer. They’re like brothers. It very much was a brother-like fight. They knew it wasn’t to our standard and what we’re about. They were accountable to their teammates and the team. It was family business, something families go through and we’re stronger because of it.”
Left tackle Terron Armstead said, on his podcast, that Brooks was upset that Dodson merely tagged a Bears player.
Here are Barry Jackson’s 20 quick hits, notes and thoughts from Sunday’s game.
This story was originally published August 10, 2025 at 4:50 PM.
