Why Dolphins WR Caleb Douglas ‘got a ways to go’ despite mild success
For a rookie, it’s important to weather the highs and lows of training camp.
One day can be the best of your life, making contested catches and scoring touchdowns. The next, you can not buy a reception.
Such is the case of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas. Five days into training camp, the rookie has already learned a valuable lesson: all 32 NFL teams highly value consistency.
“Really just staying right here,” Douglas said, motioning his hand to put right in the middle.” This came after a day in which Douglas dropped a ball that although a bit low, has to be secured if he wants to be WR1. “Even-keeled. Knowing that this is what comes with the game. That’s what practice is for.”
It’s no secret that Douglas was drafted with high expectations, especially considering the trade of star receiver Jaylen Waddle a month prior. After a rough minicamp, the former Texas Tech standout has shown some promise in the early days of training camp. That said, there’s still work to do.
“I’ve been impressed,” coach Jeff Hafley said. “I think he’s still got work to do and within the scheme, but we’ve moved him around. He’s made some contested catches, which I think is very impressive with guys right there. I think that’s probably the No. 1 thing that I wanted to see from him; when there was people around him and when the catches were hard, could he make them? Because he does have good size and he has a good catch radius. It’s a compliment to him in the first three that he’s been able to make some of those plays.”
The first day of training camp saw the rookie make several contested catches. Despite disappearing act on Day 2, he followed that up with another solid outing, specially recording a nice one-hand grab in the corner of the end zone. The collection of moments signaled what Douglas could potentially be if practice play can translate to Sundays.
“It’s really just a major blessing,” Douglas said of being in Miami. “Them bringing me in, coming in here and competing for a spot, learning off the vets that been here and played different spots in the scheme. Everybody’s just pick each other’s brain.”
Another trend emerged on Day 4: any time quarterback Malik Willis got in trouble, he would instantly find his 6-4 receiver.
“He’s just out there looking for me,” Douglas said. “I’m running far. He’s trying to throw it far.”
The reasoning, according to fellow quarterback Quinn Ewers, was pretty straightforward.
“He’s a young player that is going to end up making a lot of plays for us this year,” Ewers said, later adding “his size” makes him a valuable target. “He’s a big target. He’s fast. He’s got long strides. I feel really comfortable with him in the 50-50 ball. He’s a quarterback’s best friend, a receiver built like him.”
Of course, Douglas has more days behind in front of him than behind. After a somewhat lackluster day on Monday, how he rebounds will be important. And now that pads are on, health will always be a factor.
Hopefully, he can navigate the challenges of being an NFL rookie because if he can, there’s nothing stopping him from potentially making an impact in year one.
“He’s got a ways to go for what we expect of him,” Hafley said, “but I’m pleased with the way how he’s approached stuff right now.”
This story was originally published August 3, 2026 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Why Dolphins WR Caleb Douglas ‘got a ways to go’ despite mild success."
