The Dolphins’ offense finally found a little rhythm on the third practice of camp, and it came with the team working red zone periods on the final day of its first practice block.
That didn’t mean the defense disappeared. Miami still forced takeaways, and the unit kept showing up in the moments that mattered. But after a rough opening stretch to camp, the offense looked cleaner, sharper and more in sync - especially with Willis at quarterback.
By our count, Willis finished 6-for-10 passing and accounted for one or two touchdowns. He also added a couple of keepers, including a touchdown run from inside the 10-yard line, giving the offense some needed juice on the ground as well as through the air.
One of the most talked-about plays came when Willis hit rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas in the back of the end zone for a one-handed grab that may have been out of bounds. None of the three officials had a clear look, so the offense signaled touchdown while the defense argued incomplete. That was one of two potential scores for Douglas, who was busy all day and clearly had a much stronger showing than he did Thursday.
The cleanest touchdown for Willis came on a throw to tight end Ben Sims, who picked up another catch from the new starting quarterback. Willis didn’t deliver any true “wow” throws, but he did have a nice back-shoulder completion to Douglas and generally looked more efficient than he had in the first two practices.
There was one interception on Willis’ line, though it wasn’t entirely on him. The play broke down when linebacker Tyrel Dodson made contact with rookie right end Will Kacmarek as he tried to make a catch over the middle. Willis’ final three throws were incomplete, but one of those came on a drop by Douglas near the sideline.
That still left the day as a solid step forward for Willis, and the other quarterbacks didn’t generate nearly as much buzz. Quinn Ewers, Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski each had moments, but nothing that really stood out.
Ewers went 3-for-5 if you count a touchdown pass to Douglas on a play where Robert Beal Jr. got to him quickly enough that it likely would have been a sack or throw-away in a regular season game. Miller completed two passes, both to running backs, while Gronowski had a throw that ended up low to the ground and appeared to be either incomplete or intercepted by cornerback Ethan Robinson.
Douglas was all over the field. Along with the two possible touchdown catches, he added two more receptions from Willis and also had a drop near the sideline. Even with that blemish, it was a strong response after a quiet Thursday.
A few other notes stood out on a busy day for the Dolphins’ skill players and front seven. Chop Robinson, who had dominated Thursday, was much quieter this time around, with his biggest moment coming when Austin Jackson knocked his helmet off in pass protection. Josh Uche, meanwhile, got into the backfield to meet a running back for a second straight day.
On the ground, Carlos Washington Jr. continued to run well, but Donovan Edwards had the best burst of the day, cutting quickly outside at the line and turning it into an 8-yard touchdown. Tahj Washington helped make that play happen by sealing Omar Brown with a block.
Jaylen Wright also got a boost from a Kadyn Proctor block on a run to the left side, though Proctor later lost to Zach Sieler for a sack on the final play of practice. Afterward, Proctor said, "Just got to stay engaged.
That's the biggest thing. They dialed it up pretty well, the defense did and they won the competition, but that's all it's about - competition, having fun going out there.
We can learn from that play. We'll get to it in the film room."
Jamaree Salyer also turned in a strong block to spring Wright. Jordyn Brooks had one of the day’s best defensive sequences, blowing up a De'Von Achane run and later blanketing Greg Dulcich so tightly that offensive players were asking for a pass interference call.
Fullback D.J. Herman, the converted rookie linebacker, continued to show reliable hands with two catches.
Austin also came up with an interception and did a nice job of staying disciplined and not overpursuing on an end-around by Tutu Atwell.
Rookie seventh-round pick Max Llewellyn made his first notable play by chasing Ewers out of the pocket and all the way out of bounds. Clelin Ferrell also kept showing up after signing with Miami, though he did jump offside once.
The Dolphins are off Saturday and return Sunday for their first open practice of the summer at 9:30 a.m. Fans can attend by showing up at the Baptist Health Training Complex, with no registration required.
In Other News...
Willie Gay Jr. May Force Dolphins Into A Tough Decision
Willie Gay Jr. has spent training camp and the preseason making the kind of case that can complicate a roster decision. The veteran linebacker has flashed in a deep Miami group that already includes Jordyn Brooks, Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis, and his work has stood out enough to keep him in the conversation despite a limited role on defense last season.
The problem for Miami is that performance is only part of the equation when a team has invested in younger players and has multiple linebackers vying for snaps. Gays strong camp has only sharpened the question of whether the Dolphins can keep everyone, or whether his value around the league could push them toward a move before the roster picture settles. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins May Have Found The Edge Rusher This Defense Desperately Needed
A recent practice offered a glimpse of why David Ojabo has become an intriguing name in Miamis edge rusher mix. The former Ravens defender showed enough burst and bend to stand out in a group that does not have many locked-in answers, and the Dolphins are still sorting through who can help opposite the top of the rotation.
Chop Robinson is the only guaranteed starter in that room, which leaves Ojabo competing with Josh Uche, Clelin Ferrell, Max Llewellyn and Mason Reiger for snaps. If Ojabo keeps stacking strong practices and carries that into preseason games, he could push beyond simply making the roster and into a much more meaningful defensive role. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rookies Are Already Putting Veteran Roles In Real Danger
The Dolphins 2026 rookie class is already drawing attention because it is so large, with 13 newcomers and a handful who look capable of forcing their way into real roles before long. Miamis front office clearly sees this group as more than developmental depth, and the early buzz centers on players who fit immediate needs rather than long-term projects. That is especially true on defense, where the team has a rookie linebacker whose background and draft status make him one of the more intriguing additions in camp.
Jacob Rodriguez is the name to watch because his path gives Miami a different kind of option at linebacker, while Kyle Louis brings the sort of coverage versatility that can help a defense mix and match personnel. On the other side of the ball, Kadyn Proctor is part of the conversation up front as the Dolphins sort through how their line pieces fit together. The bigger question is how quickly these rookies can turn that promise into jobs, and which veteran spots might start feeling the pressure once the competition gets serious. [Read more 🡒]