MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins’ second preseason game offered the team the chance to rest several starters in the middle of the three-game exhibition stretch ahead of the 2026 regular season.

Ahead of the preseason game against the Giants on Saturday afternoon at Hard Rock Stadium, key players not in uniform included: quarterbacks Malik Willis and Quinn Ewers, running back De’Von Achane, wide receiver Malik Washington, offensive linemen Aaron Brewer, Patrick Paul, Austin Jackson and Jonah Savaiinaea, linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, defensive tackles Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers, edge rushers Chop Robinson and Josh Uche and cornerback JuJu Brents.

It was somewhat expected after available veterans played in last week’s preseason opener against the Washington Commanders. Top players on the roster also saw extensive work in Thursday’s joint practice with the Giants.

From that group, Ewers, Sieler, Brooks, Grant, Dodson and Brents are known to be dealing with injuries in training camp. Tight end Ben Sims and defensive end Clelin Ferrell are others not dressed as they recover from injuries.

Wide receivers Tutu Atwell and AJ Henning were suited up after sustaining injury scares at the joint session.

Rookie wide receiver Chris Bell, who has been back at practice this past week, did not play. He was seen dressed in full uniform during warmups despite not yet going through a full practice with contact since his activation from the non-football injury list in the past week.

Coach Jeff Hafley merely wanted the rookie, who has been recovering from his torn ACL in November while finishing his college career at Louisville, to go through a pregame routine.

“I thought it was really good for him,” said Hafley, who added Bell still has to get cleared for contact and get out of his red, no-contact jersey at practice. “The whole routine is different in this league, and I wanted him to feel it, go through it, so if he doesn’t get to play in a preseason game, when he does play in a real game, it’s not the first time. But he was not going to play.”

Several top Dolphins rookies, even if secure in their position on the 53-man regular-season roster, were active Saturday.

Rookie left guard Kadyn Proctor was the only starting offensive lineman in uniform. Fellow first-round pick in cornerback Chris Johnson, second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, third-round wide receiver Caleb Douglas and so on were dressed for Saturday’s preseason game.

Proctor, who got just three snaps Saturday, was replaced by fellow rookie DJ Campbell at left guard to start the offense’s second drive.

The starting quarterback for the Dolphins was third-stringer Cam Miller, with Willis and Ewers out. The starting offensive line, from left to right was: Charlie Heck, Proctor, Andrew Meyer, Josh Priebe, Caedan Wallace. Also starting were wide receivers Douglas, Jalen Tolbert, running back Jaylen Wright, fullback DJ Herman and tight end Will Kacmarek.

On defense, the Dolphins started defensive linemen Max Llewellyn, Matthew Butler, Keith Cooper Jr., David Ojabo, linebackers Rodriguez and Ronnie Harrison Jr., cornerbacks Johnson, Jason Marshall Jr., Ethan Bonner and safeties Zayne Anderson and Michael Taaffe.

Dolphins rookie linebacker Kyle Louis was seen playing safety on Saturday, where he had been practicing this past week.

Meanwhile, top Giants players were suited up ahead of the 4 p.m. kickoff, including quarterback Jaxson Dart and edge rusher Brian Burns, a South Florida product out of American Heritage High. But neither of them played.

Jameis Winston was the starting quarterback for New York on Saturday.

Dolphins captains for the pregame coin toss were Wright, Bonner and Butler.

Moore, Gordon injured

Dolphins rookie linebacker and edge rusher Trey Moore went down with an injury in the first quarter of Saturday’s game.

He rushed Winston on an incomplete pass to the end zone on the Giants’ first drive, leaping to try to deflect the pass. He landed awkwardly on his left leg.

Moore was down on the field for several minutes, as trainers evaluated his lower left leg. He was helped off by two trainers, putting no weight on the injured leg.

The fourth-round pick out of Texas was then taken off the field on a cart.

“It’s unfortunate,” said Hafley, who added he will get an update on Moore’s status Sunday. “It’s part of the game. So, we’ll see what happens and hopefully we’ll get him back soon.”

Dolphins second-year running back Ollie Gordon II went down with an injury in the second quarter. He was on the field for a few moments and walked off on his own power with trainers beside him, going straight to the locker room and foregoing the sideline injury tent.

Linebacker Ronnie Harrison Jr. also made an early exit Saturday.

McCloud cut

The Dolphins released veteran cornerback Nick McCloud on Saturday morning ahead of the afternoon exhibition.

McCloud had signed with Miami two weeks earlier, on Aug. 10. In his career, he has appeared in 63 games with 20 starts between time with the Cincinnati Bengals (2021), Giants (2022-24), San Francisco 49ers (2024) and Chicago Bears (2025).

He has recorded 110 tackles, 1 1/2 sacks, one interception, 12 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his career.

Hafley called it a standard transaction, not one for any disciplinary or injury reason, after the game.

The Dolphins filled that open spot with a roster addition announced at halftime, claiming cornerback Jai’Onte’ McMillan off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts McMillan is an undrafted rookie out of Minnesota.

Hafley heard about the transaction, which involved a claim placed by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan before kickoff, as he came off the field at the conclusion of the exhibition. The coach said he’s excited to welcome McMillan.

He also revealed linebacker Stephen Dix Jr., who was just added to the team Friday and met Hafley on Saturday morning, was calling defensive plays in the huddle late in the game.