Several Miami Dolphins rookies got their first taste of NFL action Friday night, and a few of them looked right at home.
That kind of opening-night nerves is part of the deal for first-year players. Miami head coach Jeff Hafley said some of the younger guys started the game with anxiety that faded once they got onto the field.
Caleb Douglas said he walked the field by himself to shake off the jitters. Chris Johnson said he took a deep breath before his first series.
Kadyn Proctor admitted he was nervous on his first snap before settling in and, in his words, it was " Back to just playing football."
Miami brought in a huge rookie class in April, drafting 13 players and signing 11 more undrafted free agents, so there was plenty of inexperience on the field. But several of those young Dolphins handled their first NFL reps well.
Kadyn Proctor earned an A after playing just one series. He didn’t have a huge sample, but he moved the line effectively, got outside on a pulling play, and helped set the tone on Miami’s first drive, which ended with a run behind him. For a first-round pick, it was a clean opening act.
Caleb Douglas was one of the night’s brightest spots, also landing an A. His lone catch went for 28 yards on a one-handed grab, and another reception was wiped out when his foot landed out of bounds.
Even more impressive was the way he ran routes. Douglas looked decisive, with smooth cuts and good burst, and he appears to be moving toward the season opener as the team’s top receiver.
Chris Johnson received a B after putting himself in position for a couple of plays, including one that should have been an interception. His best moment came in the back of the end zone, where he turned his body and broke up what would have been a touchdown. Johnson still has things to clean up, but he said he felt comfortable out there and that the speed of the game was not as fast as he expected.
Jacob Rodriguez came away with a B-. He got a tipped pass and was around plenty of tackles, even if none were credited to him.
The downside was that he overcommitted on a few run plays and lost his positioning. There’s plenty to like, but Friday showed how different the NFL level can be.
Will Kacmarek, Miami’s new "blocking" tight end, earned a B in his debut. He handled the Commanders’ edge rushers and helped keep the pocket clean. It’s tough to fully evaluate him because of the role he’s being asked to play, but he avoided penalties, which is a solid first step.
Trey Moore also got a B after spending a lot of time on the field. His night had its ups and downs, but he flashed off the edge and showed enough to suggest there’s more there once the game slows down for him.
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Dolphins May Have Found An Unexpected Offensive Line Tone Setter
Jonah Savaiinaeas preseason work has given Miami something it has been looking for up front: a clear example of the kind of physical, aggressive blocking the coaching staff wants to see more often. After a rough rookie season, the lineman has drawn attention for the right reasons in camp, and head coach Jeff Hafley has taken notice of the way Savaiinaea is helping set a tougher tone around the line of scrimmage.
The bigger takeaway for Miami is that the improvement has come with a reshuffling of fit and comfort. Savaiinaea looks more at home after being moved back to his natural right side by new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, and the Dolphins are treating that progress as part of a broader push to raise the standard across the front. Hafley has also pointed to positive showings from Patrick Paul, Will Kacmarek, Greg Dulcich and Kadyn Proctor, but Savaiinaea is the one who may be emerging as the clearest tone setter. [Read more 🡒]
Jeff Hafley Sends Early Message About What Dolphins Will Not Tolerate
During the Dolphins preseason opener, the focus briefly shifted from the play itself to the kind of mistake that can undo a drive and force a coach to make an immediate point. After Ollie Gordon II drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for flipping the ball at a defender, Jeff Hafley pulled him from the game, making it clear early that the standard in Miami is about more than effort and talent.
Hafley said penalties like that are unacceptable because they hurt the team, and he framed the decision as part of a broader message about discipline and self-control. He also addressed the incident with Gordon and the rest of the team, using one preseason moment to reinforce what will and will not be tolerated as Miami tries to set its tone for the season. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins O-Line Depth Just Took Another Hit Before Week 1
Miamis offensive line depth has been under pressure all summer, and the latest roster shuffle only adds to the uncertainty heading into Week 1. The Dolphins placed veteran guard/tackle Jamaree Salyer on injured reserve, a move that trims an already fragile-looking group up front as the team keeps sorting through injuries and preseason evaluations.
The Dolphins also waived/injured cornerback Ethan Robinson, then filled out the roster by signing linebacker Cam Riley and bringing back quarterback Mark Gronowski. Even as those moves help cover other spots, the quarterback add is the kind of transaction that draws attention because it comes in the middle of a broader series of depth adjustments, and Miami is still working through what the final version of its roster is going to look like. [Read more 🡒]