Dolphins players notice this change with McDaniel. And Ewers/Wilson fallout
Dolphins reporters this week saw a Mike McDaniel who was more blunt and seemingly less forgiving of mistakes.
Players saw that version of their coach, too.
“Me, personally I like this Mike,” offensive lineman Kendall Lamm said.
Several Dolphins who have been on the team for more than two years said Wednesday that McDaniel was more stern in meetings this week.
“I wouldn’t call it more fed up, but I would say more locked into the details, less room for messing around, less room for [expletive],” linebacker Cameron Goode said. “Not necessarily being angry, but not letting things slide as much.”
Fullback Alec Ingold and offensive tackle Kendall Lamm had similar observations.
“You can feel his tone; you can feel his sense of urgency,” Lamm said. “I’m not saying we weren’t urgent before. [But] when things go the way they’ve gone, you have to find ways to reach certain people.
“Not saying you come in and are an [expletive] to people. But at the same time, make the sense of urgency clear, [where] ‘I’m not asking you, I’m telling you it has to be done.’
“We’re professionals. We play in the NFL. You’re supposed to be stern. Me personally, I like this Mike. I’ve always liked coaches that assert themselves. I’m not saying you be an [expletive].
But you assert yourself and let people know what it’s supposed to be. I came into the NFL with [blunt, brusk Boston College coach] Bill O’Brien so I’m used to the assertiveness. I enjoy that.”
Ingold, who has played for the Dolphins during McDaniel’s entire tenure, said McDaniel’s approach with players this week “was an intentional and necessary pivot. I don’t think it’s scrapping who he is. Those adjustments need to be made when the results aren’t happening. If the results aren’t there, what’s the definition of insanity?”
Ingold said McDaniel’s tone this week has been “concise, to the point. It’s what needs to be heard and said. Nobody cares about each’s others emotions right now. There’s a job to be done and this is how we’re going to do it. It’s up to guys to accept that challenge.”
During film review this week, McDaniel “was coming at it with a little different tone, like ‘no more of this,’” Goode said.
“We are trying to set the tone from Day 1 and it’s the right attitude,” Zach Sieler said.
Injury update
Just as the Dolphins were placing Darren Waller on injured reserve with a pectoral injury, tight end Julian Hill missed practice because of an ankle injury. His status for Sunday’s game at Atlanta (1 p.m., CBS 4) is undetermined.
Hill, Tanner Conner and Greg Dulcich are the tight ends on the 53 man roster; Dulcich was promoted from the practice squad and said he’s happy to be back on a 53-man roster for the first time since he ended last season with the Giants after being waived by Denver on Thanksgiving week.
Safety Elijah Campbell (quadriceps) also missed practice.
Center Aaron Brewer (pectoral), cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. (hamstring) and safety Dante Trader Jr. (shoulder) were limited. Marshall was designated to return from injured reserve; the team has 21 days to activate him.
Wilson surprised
Zach Wilson and rookie seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers remain in an ongoing competition for the No. 2 quarterback job after Ewers held that role for the first time last Sunday.
Wilson said he was “a bit” surprised when he learned from coaches on Saturday that he would be the Dolphins’ No. 3 quarterback against Cleveland after backing up Tua Tagovailoa for the first six games of the season.
“I think it was a little bit of surprise [because of] the time of the week it was,” Wilson said Wednesday. “It’s always a competition. You’re never going to be handed anything in this league.”
Asked if he has been happy with his practice performance in recent weeks, he said: “I think so, things to improve, trying to get more consistent in my game.”
Ewers said he had no family at the game in Cleveland because McDaniel didn’t tell him until Saturday that he would be the No. 2.
“I don’t think any of us were anticipating [that],” Ewers said. “I don’t think it was on our bingo card.”
Ewers played part of the fourth quarter of the 33-6 loss to Cleveland and finished five for eight for 53 yards.
“It’s always a good feeling when your hard work comes to fruition,” Ewers said. “It was a great experience to be able to touch the field on something that wasn’t a preseason game. My family is super proud. I had a good time.”
McDaniel said Wilson and Ewers will compete for the job this week: “I think the coaching staff agreed that Quinn in this particular game [against Cleveland] gave us the best shot if he had to come in. Moving forward, I’m hoping it’s not a week-to-week thing.
“It will be competitive this week and at the end of the week, I’ll let you guys know who the backup is in the hopes that somebody grabs and takes it. ... I was very proud of Zach understanding that this was not a wholesale change; this was for this game and all things are on the table moving forward in their competition. We’ll settle that on the field.”
▪ In a brief conversation at his locker, outside linebacker Matthew Judon didn’t express any frustration about being a healthy scratch for the first time on Sunday. The Dolphins kept Quinton Bell and Goode active instead; both of those players have value on special teams.
“It was a game plan thing,” Judon said. “Coach has a vision in his mind and got to go out and execute it.”
Though NFL Network named Judon as a potential relocation candidate before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, Judon said that nothing that has been mentioned to him about a potential deal to a contender.
Here’s what McDaniel said at his Wednesday news conference.
This story was originally published October 22, 2025 at 5:15 PM.
