MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — If you like quick passes, dump-offs, runs into the line of scrimmage, and checkdowns, Wednesday was the Miami Dolphins practice for you.
A very muted offensive approach was how Mike McDaniel and his staff approached Wednesday’s three-quarters speed training camp practice with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle both held out.
There were a bunch of runs. There were a number of checkdowns. And the downfield throws we did see were into tight coverage, in no small part because the Dolphins receivers who participated struggled to create separation.
Miami Dolphins Without Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle
The Dolphins have been without Waddle for two weeks as he’s recovered from a midsection injury suffered during joint practices. Waddle has looked spry and engaged during rehab, and seems like a real bet to play in Week 1.
Hill, meanwhile, missed his first practice of camp for undisclosed reasons. Whatever he’s dealing with is not believed to jeopardize his availability for the season opener. In fact, he’s been due a vet’s day off for some time.
“I wasn’t even supposed to practice today,” Hill said in Houston last Thursday. “But I just had to find a way to get the guys going. One-on-ones were kind of slow for us. We began to pick it up. But no, I just love competition so much. I feel like I just can’t get away from it.
“The trainer, he told me we’re going to ramp you down a little bit. You can just chill today. You can relax. I only get one chance to play this game that I love because I know it’s going to go by fast.”
MORE: Tua Tagovailoa Claps Back at Ryan Clark
Put another way, there’s no cause for alarm for the season opener for Hill, and likely not for Waddle either. But there is cause for concern for the Dolphins’ offense if they ever have to go into a game without either receiver.
The highlights on offense were few (this pass to Robbie Chosen notwithstanding).
Uno on the 🎯 pic.twitter.com/JCDaJ3qmTL
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) August 23, 2023
Cedrick Wilson Jr. struggled to create separation against the likes of Kader Kohou and Verone McKinley III. Raheem Mostert, meanwhile, dropped not one, but two passes.
And Xavien Howard easily jumped the route and picked off a pass intended for Braxton Berrios.
“I think it was the first practice,” Tagovailoa said after practice. “It’s a little unusual not having your guys out there. But it also gives other guys opportunities to showcase themselves with the first group and then also build chemistry with those guys as well.”
Training camp is a time to build that chemistry, but we’d suggest the Dolphins keep the experimentation to practice. If Hill, Waddle, and Terron Armstead are unavailable for Saturday’s preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, there’s no reason for Tua to play.
“I don’t think you ever feel good until you get live-action games in a real season, real defensive looks, not just normal coverage,” Tua added. “You’re getting pressures, you’re getting different looks on third down. I guess we’ll never know until we actually go out there and have to really play. So, we’ll see.”