MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 14-6, in their preseason finale at Hard Rock Stadium and looked good in the process.
Quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson each led touchdown drives, the defensive front seven produced three sacks (edge rushers Chop Robinson and Derrick McLendon had one apiece and fellow edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb had a half-sack apiece), and running back Ollie Gordon II (eight carries, 43 yards) had a good night.
By the way, safety John Saunders’ interception with 1:52 remaining means the Dolphins sealed their last two preseason games with interceptions. Cornerback Ethan Robinson had the late-game pick at Detroit.
Rosters must be cut to 53 players from the current 90 players by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The Dolphins open the season Sept. 7 at Indianapolis.
Here’s what we observed from the Jaguars game:
— Tagovailoa was 4 of 8 for 49 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions and two sacks for a tidy 108.9 passer rating. Tagovailoa, who ends preseason 9 of 14 for 76 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, two sacks and a 102.1 passer rating, only targeted WR Jaylen Waddle once (completed pass for eight yards) and targeted slot WR Malik Washington three times, completing all three passes for 41 yards. The Tua-to-Washington relationship is developing.
— WR Tyreek Hill (oblique) didn’t play so the highly-anticipated matchup between Hill and Jacksonville CB/WR Travis Hunter never materialized in Thursday’s joint practice or the preseason finale. Hill, who missed organized team activities and minicamp while recovering from right wrist surgery and missed about half of training camp with the oblique injury, missed all the joint practices against Chicago, Washington and Jacksonville and didn’t play in any preseason games.
— Gordon, who ends preseason with 26 carries for 126 yards (4.8 yards per carry) and one touchdown, did well with RBs De’Von Achane (groin) and Jaylen Wright (right leg) sidelined. Gordon ran hard and physically, a good sign for him winning the RB2 job behind Achane.
— The run game (19 carries, 88 yards) had success behind the left side of LG Jonah Savaiinaea and LT Patrick Paul. The run game hardly, if ever, ran up the middle behind C Aaron Brewer, Savaiinaea and RG James Daniels. Gordon did, however, run behind backup C Daniel Brunskill and RG Jackson Carman.
— Jason Marshall Jr. entered the game as the starting nickel/slot. Marshall has come on strongly recently at a position he’s never played previously. It appears Marshall has surpassed veteran slot CB Mike Hilton for the nickel/slot job.
— WRs Malik Washington (three receptions, 41 yards), Tahj Washington (four receptions, 30 yards) and Dee Eskridge (one reception, 21 yards) are coming on strongly as reliable receivers. Each had a play or two he’d like back in preseason but overall each had a successful preseason and training camp. Their hands and route-running are solid and each does well in yards after catch.
— WR Erik Ezukanma (four receptions, 30 yards) had a productive night but is likely on the outside for a spot on the 53-man roster.
— RT Larry Borom gave up the sack on the Dolphins’ first series. Combined with the ineligible man downfield on rookie Savaiinaea it was a rough start for the offensive line. Pass protection also gave up a sack on the second possession when it appeared TE Pharaoh Brown and/or Daniels had responsibility. Still, the starting OL shows promise.
— K Jason Sanders was somehow injured early in the game and went into the locker room in the first quarter accompanied by a trainer and didn’t return. The Dolphins successfully converted a two-point conversion after their first touchdown. Sanders participated in pregame warmups but didn’t kickoff (punter Jake Bailey handled that job) or do anything in the game.
— CBs Cam Smith (one tackle) and Isaiah Johnson (three tackles) entered the game in the second quarter after starters Storm Duck and Jack Jones exited. That’s a good sign for Smith, the 2023 second-round pick who has been unimpressive during training camp.
— Among the bubble players who were starters on special teams were S Jordan Colbert, edge rusher Quinton Bell, edge rusher Cameron Goode, CB Isaiah Johnson, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Colbert might be the most significant name to note. He was on kickoff, punt return and punt coverage, jobs that likely put him on the 53-man roster if he does well.
— The second team OL was Brunskill, LG Braeden Daniels, LT Kion Smith, RG Jackson Carman, RT Ryan Hayes. They’re still a work in progress. It seems likely the Dolphins will look for help after cuts are made Tuesday.
— QB Zach Wilson (9 of 13, 80 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, two sacks, 85.4 passer rating) did OK. Wilson, who ends preseason 29 of 45 for 327 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, seven sacks and a 93.5 passer rating, has apparently locked up the No. 2 job.
Against Jacksonville, he badly overthrew Tahj Washington on second-and-4. Wilson had a pass to Eskridge on third-and-4 dropped after hitting Eskridge in the hands/chest. Wilson came back for a nice fourth-down throw to Tahj Washington for a first down. Wilson also had a second-and-7 pass to Eskridge that was batted away and appeared to be a candidate for an interception. He was sacked on third down. In the third quarter Wilson hit Eskridge on a well-thrown slant for a 21-yard gain and then hit Ezukanma for a 17-yard gain on fourth-and-16 on a drive that resulted in a touchdown.
— Westbrook-Ikhine, the big target at 6 foot 2, 211 pounds, wasn’t targeted Saturday. He played special teams in the first half and didn’t play in the second half. He’ll likely make the 53-man roster but he doesn’t seem to have chemistry with Tagovailoa, which could be a situational issue (red zone, third down, etc).
— QB Quinn Ewers (7 of 8, 66 yards, no touchdown, no interception, two sacks, 101.0 passer rating) entered the game with 4:37 left in the third quarter. Ewers (23 of 43, 273 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, four sacks, 88.6 passer rating in preseason) was sacked on his first snap and then the offense had a false start by guard Braeden Daniels. Ewers recovered after an 11-yard run by RB Aaron Shampklin to hit WR Andrew Armstrong for a 21-yard gain on a well-thrown pass. But the possession ended in a punt.
— RT Austin Jackson, who wasn’t wearing the walking boot on his left foot while on the sideline during Thursday’s joint practice against the Jaguars, wasn’t wearing the boot on sideline Saturday. That seems to mean he’s still on track to be healthy for the opener at Indianapolis. S Ashtyn Davis (left foot) has also been without his walking boot recently.
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