MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins had their final practice Wednesday before Thursday’s joint practice with the Washington Commanders and Saturday’s preseason game.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who was activated Wednesday from the physically-unable-to-perform list due to an Achilles injury sustained late last season, lined up with the starters during an 11-on-11 drill at walkthrough pace.
Rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson was disruptive once again, continuing a trend that’s been going throughout training camp. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had an understated day. He didn’t have a lot of big throws, or opportunities for big throws. There were lots of running plays Thursday.
Numerous key players didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice, possibly in anticipation of practicing against the Commanders and playing in the exhibition game.
Wednesday’s observations
— Among players not seen participating: WRs Jaylen Waddle, Tyreek Hill and Anthony Schwartz, CBs Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller and Ethan Bonner, RBs Jeff Wilson Jr. and Raheem Mostert, TEs Jody Fortson Jr., Tanner Conner and Jonnu Smith, C Aaron Brewer, LT Terron Armstead, DL Calais Campbell and Benito Jones, LBs Anthony Walker and David Long Jr., S Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer. …
— TE Julian Hill wore the orange jersey as the player of the day Monday. Hill has had a good camp overall. The player in the orange jersey gets to select the music for the next practice. Hill’s playlist was absolute fire. But G Robert Jones still has had the best playlist training camp. …
— McDaniel said Holland is working through something minor and is day-to-day. Holland hasn’t done much since getting tripped up last week during the Atlanta joint practice. …
— McDaniel said a big factor in rookie edge rusher Chop Robinson’s success is how he’s handled coaching. You see evidence of that in how Robinson’s game has evolved already. He seems better defending the run, and if it makes sense, more enthusiastic about defending the run. Robinson was active Wednesday and Tuesday in practice. …
— Phillips appeared to go full speed in individual pass rush drills. Phillips also participated in walkthrough speed 11-on-11 drills. It’s unclear whether Phillips will start the Sept. 8 opener regular-season against Jacksonville. But you’d think he’ll be on a snap count. Normally, a defense plays about 60-65 snaps per game. Phillips could be limited to, say, 35-40 snaps. We’ll see. …
— Fortson was seen doing rehabilitation drills on the side during practice. Fortson seems to be falling behind in the tight end battle by missing practices. It appears TEs Durham Smythe, Smith and Hill will all make the 53-man regular-season roster. It seems unlikely the Dolphins would keep four tight ends. …
— Poyer, who is nursing a thumb injury according to his wife’s social media post, was seen running hard in the end zone once again. Poyer’s return seems imminent. …
— Referees were on the field Wednesday. Referees weren’t at practice Monday or Tuesday after being present all week the previous week, including joint practices against Atlanta. …
— CB Cam Smith was doing rehabilitation work on the side after going through stretching and some individual drills. But he was with the first-team defense in 11-on-11 drills. Smith had a tackle for a loss on a swing pass to RB De’Von Achane. …
— LB Ezekiel Vandenburgh was seen working with a trainer on the side during practice. …
— Edge rusher Emmanuel Ogbah had a tackle for loss on an Achane run. Ogbah continues to perform as though he’ll be an opening-day starter. Most likely, he’ll start opposite Robinson. …
— DL Brandon Pili stopped a run up the middle for no gain against Achane. Pili has a chance to make the rotation now that the Dolphins have released DL Teair Tart. But Pili’s strength is physical play, which can’t necessarily be judged when players aren’t in full pads and hitting, so the joint practice and game are very important for Pili. …
— CB Siran Neal was called for pass interference against WR Braylon Sanders. Neal has been up and down in camp as a CB. He’s a special teams ace who sometimes makes plays from scrimmage and sometimes gives up plays. …
— Rookie RB Jaylen Wright had a nice cutback on about an 8- or 10-yard gain up the middle. Wright has good feet to accompany his speed. …
— Tagovailoa missed an open Achane on a defensive bust. LB Duke Riley ran away from Achane, who was split wide left, right before the snap and a defender was late covering Achane. Tagovailoa instead completed a short pass to Hill. Missed opportunity. …
— LB David Anenih, the new signee, batted down a Tagovailoa pass. Anenih has flashed the past two days. …
— DL Zach Sieler broke through the middle for a sack on Tagovailoa. Sieler is having an outstanding camp. …
— CB Isaiah Johnson broke up back-to-back passes by QB Mike White. He deflected a pass in the end zone intended for WR Kyric McGowan and Johnson broke up a pass intended for Sanders. There was contact, but no call. …
— Riley had a tackle for a loss vs. Achane in an inside run. …
— Wright had good gain in the red zone, from the 9-yard line to the 3-yard line. …
— Rookie WR Malik Washington dropped a pass from Tagovailoa. That’s rare. Washington, who couldn’t come up with a throw that was behind him, has been solid. …
— WR Mike Harley had a drop in the middle from White, and it went through his hands. Not good. …
— The Dolphins have a joint practice with Washington on Thursday. No more practices are open to the public. The Dolphins and Commanders play in a preseason game at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium.
Stock up
DL Brandon Pili, the 2023 undrafted rookie from USC, had a sack and tackle for loss as he tries to make the 53-man roster. Pili has come on recently.
Stock down
CB Siran Neal (not special teams ace Siran Neal, CB Siran Neal), Neal was flagged for pass interference Wednesday and continues to be hot and cold from scrimmage. He’s a sure thing for the 53-man roster. He’s excellent on special teams. But it might get interesting if he has to play from scrimmage.
