DOLPHINS CAMP REPORT
The Dolphins changed things up on the third day of training camp, practicing outside for an hour (open to the media) and then moving indoors (closed to the media).
And there was one disconcerting injury update: Michael Deiter, who missed nine games with a foot injury last season, was in a walking boot. Deiter played 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the eight games that he appeared last season, and he figures to be the backup center if healthy.
Highlights from Friday:
STARS OF THE DAY
Jevon Holland, who continues to make plays every day. On Friday, he outjumped Jaylan Waddle for an interception on a down-themiddle 45-yard pass by Tua Tagovailoa.
Linebacker Duke Riley, who intercepted a poorly thrown pass by Teddy Bridgewater.
Braylon Sanders, the Mississippi rookie, who caught a 35yard pass from Tagovailoa and went the distance for a touchdown
PLAYS OF THE DAY
The aforementioned Holland interception. He’s making an impact every practice.
Runinng back Salvon Ahmed showed good burst getting to the outside for a long run.
The Sanders’ play — his first big play of camp. The rookie is a long shot to make the 53 in a deep receiving room, but he has a good chance to make the practice squad.
Nik Needham was beaten on that play.
Xavien Howard deflected a Bridgewater pass to Tyreek Hill.
NOTABLE
Tagovailoa, who had no interceptions but three near interceptions in the first two training camp practices, finally threw one on that deep ball to Waddle, who had a chance to catch it. Holland was able to jump higher to pull it down.
Tagovailoa was fine otherwise, beginning the day with a 15-yard completion to Waddle, connecting with Durham Smythe for a 10yard play that Smythe ran in for a touchdown, and juking a defender to stay alive in the pocket and complete a 15-yarder to Raheem Mostert.
And Tagovailoa’s pass to Sanders for a TD was a well-placed throw.
Christian Wilkins deflected a Tagovailoa screen pass that fell incomplete.
Riley’s interception off the Bridgewater pass was pretty easy — there was no receiver in the neighborhood. It was the worst throw of camp but might have resulted from a miscommunication.
Wilkins and Raekwon Davis have done a good job stuffing the run through three days of camp. On Friday, Wilkins stuffed Chase Edmonds for a short gain and knocked away the aforementioned pass from Tagovailoa.
Raheem Mostert, who is working every other day as part of a maintenance program, had a handful of carries and took one for a long gain that might have gone for a touchdown. It’s difficult to tell when a run would actually end in a real game, because whistles often blow as soon as there’s contact.
Rookie quarterback Skylar Thompson, who bumbled three center snaps on Thursday, was better on Friday. He completed a 9yard pass to Gerrid Doaks and completed intermediate passes to River Cracraft and Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Bridgewater ran for 3 yards after
Jerome Baker nearly sacked him.
John Jenkins had a sack of Tagovailoa. Edge player Darius Hodge continues to impress; he’s around the ball a lot.
Left tackle Kion Smith committed an illegal motion penalty.
Ahmed continues to look good. He’s Mr. July and August, a player who looks very good without full uniforms (and good at times in full uniform).
Liam Eichenberg wore the orange practice jersey, meaning coaches determined he was the best performer at Thursday’s practice.
AVAILABILITY REPORT
Deiter’s injury, if serious, could leave the Dolphins in a bind at backup center. Robert Jones, the second-year guard, has taken some snaps on his own at center this summer. Rookie Cole Banwart can play center. Connor Williams has said he expects to be the center this season.
Running back Sony Michel and fullback Alec Ingold were held out as part of the team’s maintenance program. Linebacker Melvin Ingram also rested.
Defensive tackle Adam Butler remained sidelined with an undisclosed injury.
Defensive backs Byron Jones and Elijah Campbell remain sidelined. Jones, who had offseason surgery in the ankle/Achilles area, expects to be back for the start of the regular season.