Live Miami Dolphins Thursday practice blog. And Flores addresses Tua status, Bowden, more
Welcome back to our live Miami Dolphins training camp practice blog. Thursday is the 19th of 20 sessions open to the media, and 17th in South Florida. Practice is set to begin at 12:30 p.m., and we will keep updating this throughout practice.
In the meantime, here’s what Brian Flores said in his Thursday morning press conference:
▪ Flores said Tua Tagovailoa will not play against Cincinnati at 4 p.m. Sunday on CBS.
“We will try to rest most of the starters,” he said.
The decision not to play Tagovailoa on Sunday was made before the game against Atlanta but “last week’s performance didn’t hurt. It didn’t weigh in much.”
Flores wants to give a lot of time to players competing for roster spots.
He said Jesse Davis will not play but the “other guys are young, so we’ll talk through that” as far as how much - it at all - the young starting offensive linemen play.
But Flores said he wasn’t sure if DeVante Parker or Will Fuller or Preston Williams or Albert Wilson will play Sunday. All are in different stages of returning from injuries; all are expected to be healthy for the regular season.
Parker, Fuller and Williams all said in recent days that they feel fine. Wilson hasn’t practiced recently but has been throwing the football to himself while the team practices.
▪ I asked Flores if he has decided how he plans to handle the inside linebacker job alongside Jerome Baker, among Benardrick McKinney, Elandon Roberts, Duke Riley and Sam Eguavoen.
“We like the group,” he said. “Several guys are good players we think will help us. A lot of versatility in the room. We like them all.
“We will try to keep as many as we can. With attrition in this league, more likely than not, somebody could get injured or COVID situation. We will need as many able bodies as possible. We like them all. They work well together. We’ll continue to work with them, and we’ll feel good about whoever comes out of that room.”
▪ Flores said it was a tough decision to place receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. on season-ending injured reserve.
“Lynn did some nice things in training camp and the end of year. He had a good offseason, did a nice job in the spring. Unfortunately, he had an injury and we felt that was the best decision for the team. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to get him back.”
That means the Dolphins won’t cut him with a injury settlement and try to re-sign if he passes through waivers. He’s out for the season.
▪ Flores, on how Dolphins executive/special assistant Dan Marino has helped the quarterback room: “Someone with Dan’s experience, his insight and knowledge of preparation and being a professional. It’s always good to have a young quarterback to bounce ideas off.
“Dan has been that for Tua and Jacoby [Brissett] and Reid [Sinnett]. It’s nice to have someone like that around the building to bounce some thoughts off, someone who’s played the position in this league at a high level.”
▪ On receiver Kirk Merritt, who has had a good camp: “Kirk has grown from a work habit standpoint. He is learning how to get on a routine, stay on a routine, believe in a route and believe in extra work on a Jugs [machine] will help him make improvements.
“We’ve seen those improvements on the field, both in practice and in games. If he continues to do those things, he will continue to make the improvements he’s already made. He’s done a nice job. Very pleased with the growth he’s made.”
▪ On what Flores has seen with defensive tackle Raekwon Davis: “Raekwon’s spring and summer have been good. Raekwon has grown a lot. He’s much more comfortable with routine, how much he takes care of his body, what he eats, how much he sleeps. He’s making improvement and we need to continue to make more improvement.”
▪ Asked if players who have not been vaccinated will be at a disadvantage in securing a Dolphins roster spot, Flores said: “We are going to keep the best players vaccinated or unvaccinated. That’s what’s best for the team.”
▪ Flores said special teams acumen “will be a big part of the final decisions we make” with the 53-man roster.
Please check back at 12:30 p.m. for practice updates.
PRACTICE UPDATES
12:30 p.m.: Receivers Williams and Wilson are not practicing. Linebacker Vince Biegel (foot), tight end Cethan Carter (knee) and safety Jevon Holland (undisclosed) also are not practicing. Tight end Adam Shaheen isn’t here, for reasons that are unclear.
Holland has been walking around fine without any visible discomfort.
Biegel remains out indefinitely. Carter is expected to miss another week or two. Those two players are working on the side today.
Williams is working back from foot surgery last December but said he’s fine. Williams and Wilson weren’t seen initially at Thursday’s practice.
Receiver DeVante Parker is still in a red non-contact jersey but is participating today.
Cornerback Javaris Davis, who has impressed coaches, has returned from an injury but is now working with a trainer.
12:35: Solomon Kindley again opened with the starters at left guard; I’m not sure there’s even a competition anymore with Liam Eichenberg, who’s the backup right tackle...
Elandon Roberts started ahead of Benadrick McKinney opposite Jerome Baker... Roberts crushed Ahmed on one run for no gain.
Jaelan Phillips remains a starter...
12:45: Malcolm Perry took a screen from Jacoby Brissett for a significant gain...
Tua hit Hunter Long for a15-yard gain on a sideline pattern, with Byron Jones in coverage... Long is getting some first team work today.
Nik Needham and Justin Coleman are sharing first-team nickel snaps today. Needham made a nice play in coverage, knocking away a Tua Tagovailoa pass.
Tua hit Jakeem Grant down the middle for a chunk play that went 30 yards between the catch and the run after catch....
Eric Rowe had a would-be sack of Tua on a blitz...
Larnel Coleman made a nice block. He’s one of a few bubble offensive linemen...
Brissett threaded the needle with a completion to Perry for 10 yards., then hit him for 15 yards on another completion. Perry has been impressive today....
Tua hit Parker down the middle for a big gain in 7 on 7 drills....
Eric Rowe made a nice play on a pass for Hunter Long, who was in position to catch the pass.....
Jaylen Waddle elevated for a difficult catch and walked away gingerly but returned to the lineup for the next set of reps. The young man has admirable toughness....
Cornerback Cre’Von LeBlanc limped off, removed his shoe and has been sitting ijust outside the end zone for awhile while a trainer looks at his lower leg. He’s battling Trill Williams and others for the No. 6 cornerback job if the Dolphins keep six and if they count Jason McCourty as a safety....
Eichenberg appears to be in some discomfort with his leg.. He’s walking around but not participating in practice.
Noah Igbinoghene is getting some work as a returner. The Dolphins need to see their options behind Jaylen Waddle if they trade Jakeem Grant. Malcolm Perry is another option....
The Dolphins are blaring in loud crowd noise, and center Michael Deiter hiked the ball well past Tua on a slow roller...
Justin Coleman made a nice pass breakup on a Brissett throw....
Perry made yet another catch, from Brissett, for a 10 yard gain.. This has been Perry’s best day of camp...
Tua completed a pass over the middle to Mack Hollins for a 15-plus yard gain. Then he completed a pass to Hollins along the sidelines. Hollins points his arms demonstrably after catches....
The Dolphins are giving Greg Little snaps at right tackle after Eichenberg went to the sidelines in discomfort....
1:15: Linebacker Brennan Scarlett had a would-be sack operating against left tackle Larnel Coleman. He had a very strong first week of camp. He’s likely needed on the team as a backup edge player...
Duke Riley and Jaelan Phillips also had sacks on Brissett. Riley is in a competitive battle for a role on this team; he can play inside or outside linebacker.
Emmanuel Ogbah came close to a sack of Tua. Ogbah has been a pass rushing menace all camp....
Sam Eguavoen is getting first-team work in certain packages. And deservedly so, after his Emmy Award-winning four sack performance on Saturday...
Elandon Roberts dropped a potential Tua interception that hit him right in the hands...
Jaylen Waddle dropped a catchable high pass from Tua....
Tua escaped Van Ginkel, rolled out and hit Durham Smythe for 10 yards...
Hunter Long caught a 20 yard pass from Tua despite tight coverage from Rowe. Nice job by both Tua and Long...
Larnel Coleman is first team right tackle with Eichenberg and Pankey out and Jesse Davis resting for this part of practice...
Carl Tucker dropped an easy catch from Brissett...
Kirk Merritt had a good catch, in traffic, from Brissett...
Trill Williams had good coverage on an incomplete pass from Brissett to Merritt. The Syracuse rookie corner has had a strong camp...
Clayton Fejedelem had good coverage on an incomplete Brissett pass to tight end Chris Myarick...
Andrew Van Ginkel has had a couple sacks today. Van Ginkel and Phillips have both been in the backfield quite a bit today, which is encouraging...
The Dolphins spent time practicing kneel downs at the 1 yard line and the punter needing to run the clock out....
Nik Needham knocked away a Tua pass intended for Jakeem Grant. Needham has been very good in recent days.
But then Needham dropped a potential Tua interception that could have returned for a touchdown...
Reid Sinnett, who likely will play a lot on Sunday in Cincinnati, is getting work on the far field while Tua does team drills on the near field...
Noah Igbinoghene and Trill Williams are the second team boundary cornerbacks...
LeBlanc and Eichenberg never returned to practice...
Jakeem Grant swerved around defenders for a 15-yard run after a catch from Tua.
This story was originally published August 26, 2021 at 11:45 AM.
