MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Breaking: Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa can sling it.
On Tuesday, the fourth-year quarterback had his best practice of camp to date, and not coincidentally, his offense did too. We break it all down in our Day 6 Miami Dolphins practice report.
Miami Dolphins Practice Report: Latest News From Training Camp
Tua Time
From the jump, you could tell Tagoavailoa was feeling it Tuesday. He only had one real miss in one-on-ones (deep to Tyreek Hill), but once team drills began, he really took things up a notch.
Tagovailoa, by our unofficial records, completed 13 of 15 passes for 129 yards in team drills. He had command at all three levels, with his best throw coming to Jaylen Waddle across the middle that went for 20 yards (more on him in a bit).
It was one of two plays of 20+ yards Tagovailoa had Tuesday. The other was a deep ball down the left sideline that was caught by Alec Ingold in no small part because safety DeShon Elliott pulled up in coverage to protect his teammate.
(“If it was anybody else, I would have put him to sleep,” Elliott said later.)
Tagovailoa played with pace and determination Tuesday, which is an excellent sign ahead of a critically important Year 4.
If he stays healthy — which has been his No. 1 focus since the end of his injury-plagued 2022 season — Tagovailoa has a chance to challenge some single-season Dolphins records in 2023.
This Penguin Loves the Heat
Tyreek Hill gets all the attention. But Waddle has been the most impressive Dolphins wide receiver this summer.
Hill hasn’t been as dominant as he was this time last year, but Waddle has more than picked up the slack. And what’s most encouraging: He’s done it with all three Dolphins QBs throwing to him.
The Dolphins have rotated even their top guys throughout the depth chart this camp to give them looks with not just Tagovailoa but also Mike White and Skylar Thompson.
That hasn’t had a negative impact on Waddle, who, aside from a drop in one-on-ones, was fantastic Tuesday. His highlight? A deep catch from Thompson shortly after a thunderstorm sent practice indoors.
Odds and Ends
- The Dolphins have had three practices since Jalen Ramsey underwent surgery. He’s been an observer on crutches in two of those three sessions. Ramsey spent practice Tuesday on the sideline.
- While the offense won the day, the defense had their moments as well. In 11-on-11s, Elijah Campbell blew up a run play, Bradley Chubb had a pressure, David Long had penetration that led to a tackle for loss, Cam Smith broke up a pass attempt from White, and Zach Sieler got the best of Connor Williams in a run play.
- The biggest highlight of practice came on its final play. Rookie running back Chris Brooks got loose for a 95-yard touchdown thanks to great blocking and an excellent cutback.