The Dolphins’ 13th training camp practice turned into a showcase for a different set of rookies, with Chris Johnson and Kevin Coleman Jr. grabbing the spotlight Tuesday in front of the team’s second ticket members.
Johnson put together the kind of coverage day cornerbacks dream about. He was glued to receivers throughout practice, including one rep where he stayed on Caleb Douglas down the field. He also made an impact in run support, and the whole afternoon amounted to a near-perfect showing without the interception to cap it off.
Coleman, back in team periods for the first time in a couple of weeks, made his return count with two touchdown catches - one from Malik Willis and another from Cam Miller.
It was a quieter day for some of the other rookies who had been drawing attention lately. Douglas, who returned after missing the end of work Monday, didn’t record a catch. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez also had a low-key practice after a run of headlines in camp.
The Dolphins were again shorthanded, with DT Zach Sieler, DT Kenneth Grant, LB Ronnie Harrison Jr., LB Jordyn Brooks, EDGE Robert Beal Jr., TE Ben Sims, QB Quinn Ewers, WR Theo Wease Jr. and EDGE Clelin Ferrell all out. Safety Dante Trader Jr. and cornerback JuJu Brents were limited to individual work, while Trader Jr. and Kevin Coleman Jr. both returned after missing time. Rookie wideout Chris Bell stayed in a red jersey, edge Seth Coleman-Lyles was back after being re-signed Tuesday morning, and quarterback Mark Gronowski and linebacker Cam Riley were on the field after being signed Sunday - with Gronowski, in his case, re-signed.
Willis’ stat line wasn’t clean, but he still had a few throws that stood out. His touchdown pass to Coleman came on a sidearm throw while moving left after spinning away from pass rusher Max Llewellyn. He also connected with Malik Washington while stepping up in the pocket to avoid pressure, then later hit Washington again on another sidearm delivery.
One incompletion to Greg Dulcich was a good throw over the middle against the blitz, and Willis also showed his best designed run of camp, getting around the right side and looking like he could have turned it into a 20-yard touchdown if he had gotten one more block downfield. He did miss on a couple throws, including an out to Dulcich and an earlier sideline pass to Jaylen Wright after Wright had created separation.
Miller had his chance with the second unit with Ewers sidelined and had some good moments, though he was less sharp than he was Monday. His best play was a touchdown to Coleman while rolling to his right, but he also missed an easy flat throw to fullback D.J. Herman when he didn’t set his feet.
Washington kept rolling as Willis’ top target, finishing with three catches and a two-point conversion late in practice. He remains the most consistent receiver on the roster in terms of production, even if Caleb Douglas has the higher ceiling. Chop Robinson also kept making noise, winning a couple of reps against Austin Jackson, including one where he drove Jackson to the ground on a run play.
The Dolphins worked one-on-ones before team periods, and the line battles produced some strong work from Kadyn Proctor, Patrick Paul getting the better of Chop Robinson, and Jordan Phillips bouncing back after Aaron Brewer had handled him by putting Andrew Meyer on the ground.
Other notable moments came throughout the session. Jason Marshall Jr. broke up a long Willis pass intended for Washington early in team work, though Washington kept the play from becoming an interception.
Trey Moore continued to flash as a run defender when he stepped up to meet De’Von Achane after a pitch. David Ojabo had one of his better practices in a while, stuffing Jaylen Wright on a run and later getting around Charlie Heck for a sack.
Cam Riley made an immediate impression by meeting Carlos Washington Jr. in the hole at the line, Zayne Anderson added a sack on a blitz against Willis, and Fatorma Mulbah got penetration on an Ollie Gordon II run before Gordon slipped past him with quick feet and bounced outside.
Gronowski showed some mobility on a scramble and a designed run, and Tyrel Dodson finished things off with a sack of Miller in the final team period after some earlier extracurricular activity on tackle Caedan Wallace. There were no interceptions on the day, and only one turnover, coming on a botched exchange between Willis and De’Von Achane.
The Dolphins will hold a closed walk-through Wednesday at the Baptist Health Training Complex before their joint practice with the New York Giants on Thursday morning.
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