Aikman, Bradshaw differ on Dolphins’ quarterback situation
Jaguars wide receiver Dede Westbrook loses the ball after being hit by Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick preseason game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.
MIAMI GARDENS — Terry Bradshaw believes the Miami Dolphins are “Josh Rosen’s team.”
Troy Aikman, on the other hand, said he expects veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick to start for the Dolphins in the regular-season opener.
While Dolphins coach Brian Flores has yet to name a starting quarterback, both Bradshaw and Aikman shared their opinions on the Dolphins quarterback situation during FOX’s pregame show before Thursday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Bradshaw said Flores should hand the Dolphins offense over to Rosen, while Aikman sounded adamant that Fitzpatrick should be the starter as if he were reporting an inside scoop during the telecast.
Fitzpatrick started Thursday’s game against the Jaguars for the Dolphins, while Rosen remained on the sidelines through the first half.
The Dolphins will have one more preseason game, against the New Orleans Saints next Thursday, to help decide their quarterback battle before the Sept. 8 opener Ravens. at home against the Baltimore
Multiple starters out: NFL teams typically use the third preseason game as a dress rehearsal of sorts, giving their starting lineups significantly more playing time than other preseason games.
The Dolphins, however, were without a number of players who have been held out in recent weeks due to undisclosed injuries or other reasons.
Standout left tackle Laremy Tunsil was a healthy scratch, but eight other Dolphins players who started last season did not play Thursday: running back Kenyan Drake; linebackers Kiko Alonso and Raekwon McMillan; wide receivers DeVante Parker, Albert Wilson and Jakeem Grant; and safeties Reshad Jones and T.J. McDonald.
While Jones and Grant returned to practice this week, both were held out for precautionary reasons. Also out for the Dolphins were backup safety Walt Aikens, rookie outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, reserve linebacker Chase Allen and backup defensive tackle Vincent Taylor.
Cornerback Eric Rowe, playing in his second straight game, and linebacker Nick DeLuca, a newcomer signed during training camp, were among the Dolphins’ starters on defense.
Rowe was the subject of a pass interference review on an incomplete pass from Nick Foles intended for receiver Dede Westbrook during the first quarter. The referees ruled in favor of the Dolphins, confirming their initial decision on the field.
Rowe later intercepted a Foles pass in the beginning of the second quarter that led to a Dolphins field goal.
Wide receiver Preston Williams, tight ends Nick O’Leary and Durham Smythe and fullback Chandler Cox were among the Dolphins’ starters on offense with Fitzpatrick.
Dolphins defensive backs Chris Lammons and Cornell Armstrong each had strong tackles, following Miami punts, to prevent the Jaguars from returning the football in special teams play early in the first quarter.
Lammons, a former Plantation High standout, laid his second big hit on special teams play on Jaguars returner D.J. Clark, causing a fumble and Walton scooped it up and ran into the end zone.