MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel was smart to invite the Washington Commanders to town for a joint practice.
It gave McDaniel and his staff a chance to see how his interior line in general — and Liam Eichenberg in particular — would fare against one of the NFL‘s most talented defensive tackle tandems.
Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins Practice Report
How’d it go?
More or less as you’d expect.
Eichenberg, playing center with Aaron Brewer hurt, hung in there but also noticeably got beat a couple of times.
Jonathan Allen, a two-time Pro Bowler, was particularly active. He had a sack (beating Robert Jones) and at least two pressures.
In all, the Commanders had an estimated five sacks on the day (including two by Dorance Armstrong, who also had a tackle for loss).
“We’ve been working so hard to get the new scheme, and [we’ve come] a long way from when we first came in OTAs,” Daron Payne told reporters after practice. “I think we’re gonna be a good group. We just got to keep on chipping at it and when Week 1 rolls around, just get after it.”
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The Dolphins’ offensive line — which in 11-on-11 drills was without two starters in Brewer and Terron Armstead — did perform better in the run game than in pass pro, with Raheem Mostert repeatedly gaining tough yards up the middle.
And Tua Tagovailoa’s unofficial stat line would have looked markedly better had he not overthrown a streaking Tyreek Hill — who got behind Quan Martin and Percy Butler down the left sideline.
Tagovailoa did lead the Dolphins’ starting offense on a field-goal drive in a two-minute drill, with his best throw of the day being a 15-yard completion to Malik Washington across the middle.
Dolphins Defense vs. Commanders Offense
The Dolphins’ defense also went out on a high note. Cornerback Kendall Fuller — who spent six of his first eight NFL seasons with the Washington franchise — picked off Jayden Daniels on the final snap of practice.
“It was fun. The football side of it, and also the relationships that you build anytime you’re at a place for so many years,” Fuller said after practice.
Fuller was quite familiar with his primary assignment Thursday — Terry McLaurin.
“I think the first or second rep of practice, he had a touchdown on me,” Fuller said. “So to be able to make a play at the end [was great].”
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Daniels lit up the Dolphins early on, throwing five red-zone touchdowns in the span of 10 or so plays, including two to McLaurin. Kader Kohou was in coverage for the other McLaurin score.
The Dolphins’ pass rush was largely held in check Thursday. Safety Marcus Maye did have an interception off a deflection.
Dolphins Injury Update
Dolphins players who did not participate in Thursday’s practice included: Brewer; WRs Jaylen Waddle, Anthony Schwartz, and Kyric McGowan; RB Jeff Wilson Jr.; TE Tanner Conner; DLs Da’Shawn Hand and Benito Jones; LB Anthony Walker Jr.; and DBs Jalen Ramsey, Jevon Holland, and Ethan Bonner.
Salvon Ahmed got a fair amount of work Thursday after missing multiple practices due to injury.
Receiver Odell Beckham Jr., who has yet to practice since signing with the Dolphins in the spring, was spotted working up a considerable sweat doing rehab work to the side. Pass rusher Bradley Chubb also remains on PUP, but McDaniel said he’s “happy with where [Chubb’s] at.”