The Dolphins’ first preseason game offered a little of everything Friday night: a sharp opening drive, a rookie receiver flashing big-time traits, and a pair of quarterbacks who made the night feel a lot shakier after the first series.
For Miami, the best early sign came from Malik Willis. In his lone series, he looked settled and in control, steering the Dolphins on a 91-yard touchdown march to start the game.
He missed on just one throw, and even that ball was hauled in with one foot out of bounds. For a team trying to get a clean first look at its new QB, Willis delivered exactly that.
Caleb Douglas also made his debut count. The rookie wideout ran his routes cleanly and showed real awareness near the sideline, which helped him turn in the kind of grab that sticks in your mind: a 28-yard catch in tight coverage where he tipped the ball up, tracked it, and secured it as he hit the ground. His night ended after the same short stretch as Willis’, but the snaps he got were enough to show why Jon-Eric Sullivan was so high on him.
Ollie Gordon joined the positive side of the ledger, too. When he got the football, he ran with conviction and made a case that he’s not about to hand over the second spot on the depth chart to Jaylen Wright without a battle. Wright also had a solid showing in limited work, and that backfield competition is looking like one worth watching.
Not everything went smoothly after that fast start. Quinn Ewers never found a rhythm, failing to move the ball deep into Commanders territory on his first drive and then throwing an interception on his second.
Over more than two quarters, he completed just one pass on eight attempts. His second completion, as the night went, was to the Commanders’ defense.
Ewers has had a rough camp, and Friday didn’t suggest he’s ready to flip the script yet.
Cam Miller’s night was even rougher. If the arm strength talk around him is real, it didn’t show up here.
He threw two interceptions and easily could have had two more picked off if those defenders had held on. He spent much of the game looking out of sorts, with pocket awareness and accuracy both becoming real issues.
At this point, the Dolphins may have to start looking outside the organization for another option.
The secondary had its own problems. Miami grabbed an early interception thanks to an overthrown pass in the first quarter, but after that, the Commanders had too much room to work.
Washington moved the ball against the Dolphins’ defensive backs for most of the night, and only its own mistakes kept the score from getting uglier. Chris Johnson did stand out in a limited sample, but not much else in that unit did.
Cameron Goode was one of the few defenders who helped himself. Working in the second half, he was active against the run and found a sack by breaking through the line. With roster decisions looming over the final three weeks, Goode picked a good night to make a case in front of his head coach.
In Other News...
Dolphins Leave First Preseason Test With Two Concerns Fans Noticed
The Dolphins opened their preseason against Washington with a mixed bag that fit the usual August script, only with a few more reasons for Mike McDaniels staff to study the film closely. Malik Willis got the offense moving on the opening series and finished it with a touchdown, while the rest of the quarterback rotation had a much rougher time keeping drives on schedule. There were also encouraging signs up front and from parts of the defense, enough to keep the night from feeling like a total wash despite the 20-7 final.
What stood out most for Miami, though, were the same issues that can quickly become talking points once the games count. The backup quarterbacks did not find much rhythm, and the run defense gave up enough yardage and touchdowns to make the result look worse than a preseason loss usually does. It was only the first exhibition test, but it gave the Dolphins a clear reminder of which areas still need tightening before the roster starts to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Fans Cant Ignore This Early Tua Comparison
Malik Willis wasted little time giving Dolphins fans something to watch in preseason action, looking comfortable in his first Miami appearance and drawing praise from coach Jeff Hafley. Working efficiently through the offense, Willis showed the kind of command that can make a backup quarterback conversation interesting in August, especially for a team that has spent plenty of time evaluating where its depth stands behind the starter.
The early comparison with Tua Tagovailoa only sharpens the intrigue around both quarterbacks new paths. Tuas first preseason outing with the Falcons came with more frustration than rhythm, while Miami at least got a cleaner debut from Willis as the team sorts out its own quarterback picture for the season ahead. For Dolphins fans, it is the kind of early snapshot that invites a second look, even if the real answers are still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Loss Exposed A Depth Problem Fans Cant Ignore
Jeff Hafley used the preseason game the way a coach should at this point in August, spreading snaps around and giving Miami a long look at the roster beyond the usual starters. The effort level was there, and the Dolphins did show some physical toughness, but the game also gave a clearer picture of where the team is thin, especially when the depth chart starts to take hits.
The biggest concern came on defense, where the secondary struggled while starters sat out and younger players were pushed into bigger roles than usual. Miami also came away with questions along the offensive line and at wide receiver, two spots where competition for jobs is supposed to be fiercest this time of year. For a team trying to sort out the back end of the roster, the loss made the evaluation process a little more urgent. [Read more 🡒]