Live updates: What’s happening at Dolphins’ joint practice with Jaguars. Wright exits early
Live reports from Day 19 of the Miami Dolphins’ preseason practices on Thursday — a joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Please keep checking back for updates from the final training camp practice:
▪ The most notable development in Thursday’s practice: Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright walked slowly into the Baptist Health facility attached to the team’s practice complex for further evaluation on an injury midway through the session. Details on the injury weren’t immediately known.
Without Wright, the Dolphins would be left with just three healthy running backs — Ollie Gordon Jr., Mike Boone and Aaron Shampklin. But Boone and Shampklin were just recently signed.
Wright is in position to be the Dolphins’ No. 2 running back behind starter De’Von Achane, who remains out with a calf issue.
In addition, Dolphins wide receiver AJ Henning exited Thursday’s practice early on a cart with crutches. Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks also appeared to injure his leg on Thursday, but he remained on the practice field.
WALLER UPDATE
Just one day after the Dolphins activated tight end Darren Waller off the physically unable to perform list on Wednesday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel provided a glimpse at the team’s thinking with Waller.
Waller’s involvement mostly was limited to stretching and taking mental reps on Wednesday, but he did a bit more on Thursday. Waller still has yet to take part in 11-on-11 drills, though.
“I can’t wait for him to show me,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Thursday morning when asked what his expectations are for Waller for the start of the regular season. “He’s done a great job and you’ll see more of him today, and that’s inherent in progression. It didn’t take long for him to be in walkthroughs and watch him execute the things that what we’re asking people to think about. Each practice is super important. I’m looking forward to him growing in our offense readily and pretty quickly because I watched him attack the time since he’s been back. He’s motivated.”
The Dolphins placed Waller on PUP at the start of camp — which prohibits a player from practicing — so he could get himself into NFL game shape, and reduce the risk of injury, after spending last season in retirement. But McDaniel made clear that Waller has made the most of his opportunities behind the scenes since signing with the Dolphins.
“He’s very prepared for each rep,” McDaniel continued. “There isn’t a ton of time, but there is a ton of time, if that makes sense because every moment will b be of usage and of value because he’s not going unprepared to any assignment that he has.”
Waller, 32, has made one Pro Bowl appearance, as a member of the Raiders in 2020, when he caught 107 passes for 1,196 yards. He caught 52 passes for 552 yards for the Giants in 2023 before retiring the following June.
He came out of retirement on July 1, and the Giants traded Waller and a seventh-round pick to Miami for a sixth-round pick.
Even though he hasn’t been able to practice, the Dolphins have listed Waller as the starting tight end on the depth chart. Julian Hill, Pharoah Brown, Tanner Conner, Hayden Rucci and Chris Myarick are the other tight ends on the roster.
INJURY UPDATES
Receiver Tyreek Hill (oblique) and running back De’Von Achane (calf) did not practice. The Dolphins are being cautious with both of their injuries in advance of the regular season.
Also, rookie defensive lineman Kenneth Grant didn’t practice for the second straight day. McDaniel labeled Grant as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury.
In addition, Dolphins cornerback Kendall Sheffield (soft tissue injury) was held out of practice Thursday.
Among those on the Dolphins’ roster who also missed Thursday’s practice were Ashtyn Davis (left foot), Ethan Bonner (hamstring), Andrew Meyer (left elbow), Bayron Matos and Austin Jackson (left foot).
Dolphins cornerback Cornell Armstrong appeared to hurt his ankle while warming up for practice on Thursday.
But the most notable development in Thursday’s practice was that Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright walked into the Baptist Health facility for further evaluation on an injury midway through the session.
Dolphins linebacker Dequan Jackson was out of a red non-contact jersey and on the field for Thursday’s practice.
Dolphins offensive lineman Kion Smith was back practicing Thursday after not finishing practice on Wednesday.
There was no orange jersey player for the Dolphins on Thursday. McDaniel has previously said he didn’t want to put a target on any player during a joint practice.
HOW DID OFFENSIVE LINE LOOK?
Dolphins offensive tackle Patrick Paul has some heated reps with Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen during 1-on-1 drills. It reached a point where Hines-Allen went up to talk to Paul, but it seemed like more talking than confronting the second-year player.
The best Dolphins performer during 1-on-1swas center Aaron Brewer, who won every rep. Braeden Daniel also did well in his reps. But all of Miami’s backup offensive tackles struggled, as did Daniel Brunskill.
▪ There were a few fights that broke out between the Dolphins and Jaguars during Thursday’s joint practice. One flight between the Jaguars offense and the Dolphins defense spilled into the Dolphins’ indoor practice facility.
▪ The Dolphins’ defense opened 11-on-11 red-zone drills with a sack from defensive tackle Zach Sieler.
▪ Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington caught an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tua Tagovailoa during 11-on-11 red-zone drills. Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle then caught a seven-yard touchdown on the next play.
▪ Dolphins wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. also pulled in a touchdown reception on a pass thrown by quarterback Zach Wilson during red-zone drills.
▪ Tagovailoa was sacked by Jaguars defensive lineman Arik Armstead during red zone work from inside the 10-yard line.
▪ Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick intercepted a pass thrown by Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during red-zone drills.
▪ Wright ran in for a 5-yard touchdown during red-zone work prior to leaving Thursday’s practice early.
▪ There was a rough two-play sequence for Wilson, who threw a bounce pass to tight end to Conner on what should have been an easy touchdown and then was sacked by Jaguars defensive lineman Emmanuel Ogbah.
▪ Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas beat Dolphins cornerback Storm Duck for a short touchdown on a quick slant in the red zone.
▪ The Dolphins’ defense held its own against the Jaguars’ offense in the red zone, with Sieler consistently getting penetration , Fitzpatrick picking off a pass and the secondary deflecting a few passes.
▪ Dolphins rookie Jason Marshall Jr. broke up a deep pass to Thomas while playing as the nickel cornerback.
▪ Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones intercepted a pass from Lawrence.
▪ Dolphins wide receiver Andrew Armstrong came away with an impressive 35-yars reception over a few Jaguars defenders on a pass thrown by Wilson.
▪ Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell recorded back-to-back run stops and then a sack during 11-on-11 drills.
▪ Jaguars linebacker Ventrill Miller forced a fumble on Dolphins tight end Pharoah Brown.
▪ Dolphins linebacker OLB Jaelan Phillips sacks Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence during 11-on-11 drills.
▪ Thomas beat Jones for a 45-yard reception.
▪ With Tagovailoa at quarterback, the Dolphins’ offense came up empty on a drive during situational drills against the Jaguars defense.
▪ Dolphins offensive lineman Jackson Carman and Jaguars defensive lineman Maason Smith got into a shoving match during 1-on-1 drills.
This story was originally published August 21, 2025 at 10:15 AM.
