MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins returned to the practice field Monday for an intrasquad session coming off the Saturday preseason game and Thursday joint practice with the New York Giants.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers was back at practice, participating in stretch and walkthrough-speed team reps, although he was not seen throwing in individual drills.
Rookie wide receiver Chris Bell was out of the red, no-contact jersey and in a regular white jersey for an offensive player. He has been cleared for contact in practice.
Veteran defensive tackle Zach Sieler and linebacker Jordyn Brooks were seen working out individually apart from their position groups.
Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant was using a scooter to move around as he interacted with players working out on the side, a group that included defensive end Clelin Ferrell and tight ends Will Kacmarek, Ben Sims and Seydou Traore.
Cornerback JuJu Brents made further progress in recovering from injury. Linebackers Trey Moore and Ronnie Harrison Jr. were not practicing after they were injured in Saturday’s preseason game against the New York Giants, but running back Ollie Gordon II. Linebacker Tyrel Dodson did not participate in team portions of practice.
Like coach Jeff Hafley said Sunday, the Dolphins practiced at different speeds depending on the unit on Monday.
Starters, who mostly didn’t play in the last exhibition, went full speed in team reps, but the second unit, filled with players who played extensive snaps Saturday, went at walkthrough speed. Ewers was in at quarterback during those plays.
It began raining in Miami Gardens in the middle of team portions of practice, which exposed players to natural wet-ball drills.
Longtime Miami Heat player Udonis Haslem was watching Monday’s practice and spoke to the team before the day’s drills.
Here are a series of observations from Monday’s practice:
— Getting a two-minute drive to wrap up practice, QB Malik Willis quickly got the offense up the field by hitting RB De’Von Achane, who had a step on LB Jacob Rodriguez. Needing a touchdown to finish the drive, on fourth-and-5, CB Chris Johnson broke up a pass to WR Malik Washington.
— In the red zone setting, QB Malik Willis ripped a touchdown pass to WR Jalen Tolbert through traffic in the back of the end zone for a touchdown.
— RB De’Von Achane had a short touchdown run behind LT Patrick Paul and LG Kadyn Proctor.
— DEs Chop Robinson and Josh Uche collapsed on Willis for a sack in the red zone, as Willis tried to roll out in each direction before realizing he had nowhere to go.
— QB Malik Willis ripped a pass over the middle on a post to TE Greg Dulcich for about 15-20 yards.
— On Bell’s first pass thrown his way in the team setting, he had the Willis pass go through his hands.
— On the first play of team drills, linebacker Jackson Woodard stuffed a run to the left side, going to De’Von Achane. Willis kept the ball on a separate read option, and Woodard did a good job tracking him to the sideline.
— Later, in red-zone drills, Woodard broke up a side-arm throw short middle from Willis.
— LB Willie Gay Jr. broke through for a would-be sack on Willis, who completed a pass to AJ Henning down the field.
— WR Kevin Coleman Jr., after a strong week and big play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Giants, dropped a short screen.
— CB Chris Johnson had strong coverage on an incompletion down the sideline.
— CB Ethan Bonner had a throw to TE Greg Dulcich down the opposite sideline blanketed, forcing Willis to throw high out of bounds.
— Ewers got team reps but at walkthrough speed in his first practice back, and started with a short completion to RB Ollie Gordon II.
Stock up: LB Jackson Woodard
After recovering a fumble Saturday against the Giants, Woodard kept that momentum rolling with extensive work at Monday’s practice. He fit run gaps extremely well, showed strong pursuit to the sideline, broke up a pass in red-zone drills and, although he gave up a catch covering speedy RB De’Von Achane, it’s not like Achane left him in the dust.
Stock down: TE Seydou Traore
The rookie from London and Mississippi State, who was drafted in the fifth round though the international player pathway, is now sidelined after having a rough pair of preseason games. He might be a candidate for the practice squad.