The Miami Dolphins took the strategy of one thing nearer to a gown rehearsal early within the exhibition towards the Las Vegas Raiders — no less than for 2 drives.
After the Dolphins rested practically all their starters in final week’s preseason opener towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coach Mike McDaniel let a number of of his prime gamers, together with beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, play within the 15-13 loss on Saturday night time at Exhausting Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins listed left deal with Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard, extensive receiver Jaylen Waddle and fullback Alec Ingold because the starters on the depth chart that have been introduced as out 90 minutes earlier than kickoff. Miami additionally had security Eric Rowe, fullback John Lovett, tight finish Tanner Conner, outdoors linebacker Brennan Scarlett and deal with Greg Little as pregame inactives.
At kickoff, it was revealed on the CBS4 broadcast that star extensive receiver Tyreek Hill and fellow veterans in working again Raheem Mostert and outdoors linebacker Melvin Ingram have been additionally set to sit down. McDaniel stated at halftime of the printed that resting the three veterans was not injury-related.
“It’s the imperfect scenario that's the preseason for the sport of soccer,” stated McDaniel postgame. “You’re making an attempt to stability getting guys ready and never placing them in danger in exhibition.”
Waddle didn't apply all week forward of the exhibition with an undisclosed harm. Armstead didn't apply on Thursday after additionally lacking staff drills in Wednesday’s session. He had been rising his workload the earlier two practices throughout coaching camp as he will get recreation prepared for the common season coming off offseason knee surgical procedure.
Conventionally, the second of three preseason video games is the perfect alternative for a coach to play most of his starters, permitting backups and roster longshots to take the preseason finale and relaxation veterans forward of Week 1.
Of the starters, tight finish Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins’ franchise-tagged participant, apparently was left in by your entire first half. He completed with three catches on six targets for 27 yards.
“He must proceed doing what he’s doing, which is totally committing within the run and cross recreation to the offense,” stated McDaniel of Gesicki, who additionally indicated postgame he wants the additional reps in a brand new offense. “He’s a few performs on the ball away from having a very good recreation that he feels good about.”
Tagovailoa made his preseason debut going right into a key third NFL season. He went 6 of 8 for 58 yards in two drives that netted 3 factors.
Tagovailoa sat final week on the Buccaneers with McDaniel citing a confidence in him from what he had seen from the left-handed signal-caller in apply. In three practices this previous week, Tagovailoa threw six interceptions — some in late-game drive conditions the place he was compelled to throw downfield into protection with time working out.
Standout second-year security Jevon Holland, who had 4 of the apply interceptions towards Tagovailoa, was amongst a slew of different starters obtainable to play after they rested in Tampa final week. Some others: Operating again Chase Edmonds, heart Connor Williams, linebackers Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts, defensive linemen Emmanuel Ogbah, Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler.
“With every participant, it’s type of case by case,” McDaniel stated. “It's important to assess everybody the place they’re at and the way a lot they want that preseason to allow them to really feel 100% full go towards the Patriots [in Week 1].”
Along with the inactive gamers, the Dolphins even have cornerback Byron Jones nonetheless on the physically-unable-to-perform record following decrease left leg surgical procedure within the offseason. And cornerback Trill Williams and tight finish Adam Shaheen are on injured reserve.
A number of Dolphins sustained accidents on Saturday, together with three cornerbacks in Nik Needham, Keion Crossen and Mackensie Alexander, together with working again Salvon Ahmed. Needham and Ahmed withstood obvious hand accidents.
“There have been some dings,” McDaniel stated. “We had some hand accidents. There’s nothing deadly by way of long-term points.”
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