MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins rookie linebacker Trey Moore, the fourth-round pick who was showing promise as a strongside linebacker and edge rusher, left Saturday’s 26-3 preseason loss against the New York Giants in the first quarter with an apparent left ankle injury.
Moore’s injury was a downer in a first half that saw Miami trail, 20-3, at halftime. But much of the game was a downer.
The Dolphins, who allowed Washington 174 rushing yards last week, allowed the Giants 133 yards Saturday. Miami was outgained, 390-102. The Dolphins were 2 of 11 (.182) in third downs while the Giants were 11 of 18 (.611). And Miami’s quarterbacks were 8 of 16 passing for 52 yards. Additionally, the Dolphins were flagged for eight penalties (for 59 yards).
By the way, the announced kickoff temperature of 94 degrees was tied for the hottest game at Hard Rock Stadium with the 1995 season opener against the New York Jets.
The Dolphins rested many of their starters including quarterback Malik Willis, Pro Bowl running back De’Von Achane, All Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks and All Pro center Aaron Brewer.
Left guard Kadyn Proctor, the first-round pick, started but only played one series. Cornerback Chris Johnson, the Dolphins’ other first-round pick, also started but only played nine snaps.
Here’s what we learned Saturday:
Miller shows good arm strength in rough outing
Third-team quarterback Cam Miller, who is battling injured Quinn Ewers (groin) for the No. 2 job, started and threw the ball relatively well in the first half. Miller went 6 for 11 for 60 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked twice and had a 70.3 passer rating. He had a 17-yard scramble on the possession after he showed good location and arm strength on back-to-back throws to tight end Will Kacmarek (three yards to the right sideline) and wide receiver Tahj Washington (12 yards over the middle) in the second quarter.
Miller, signed late last season from the Las Vegas Raiders, was under duress for much of the first half. Miller was 2 of 8 on third downs in the first half and had conversion attempts of 10, 5, 12 (Dolphins lost fumble), 15, 6 and 14 yards.
It’s unclear if Miller did enough to tighten the race vs. Ewers for the No. 2 job.
Rodriguez and other rookies
Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (two tackles), the second-round pick from Texas Tech who started in place of veteran Tyrel Dodson, who didn’t play, had two tackles in a relatively quiet first half. Among other rookies, Proctor and Johnson (one tackle) had limited playing time.
Wide receiver Caleb Douglas, the third-round pick, didn’t have a target in the first half while safety-linebacker Kyle Louis, the fourth-round pick, had five tackles.
Safety Michael Taaffe, the fifth-round pick, started and ended with one tackle.
Wide receiver Chris Bell (knee), the third-round pick who was recently activated but hasn’t been cleared for contact, went through pregame warmups in uniform but wasn’t in uniform for the game.
Special teams not particularly sharp
Kicker Riley Patterson, who seems to have secured the job for the regular season, hit a 53-yard field goal with 1:12 left in the second quarter. That was the big highlight of the first half for special teams, which are off to an uneven start through two exhibitions.
Kickoff returner/running back Jaylen Wright had a 33-yard kickoff return. That was already an improvement from the opening kickoff against the Washington Commanders last week when he muffed the opening kickoff.
And later wide receiver Jalen Reagor, who might need special teams to make the 53-man regular-season roster, had a 28-yard kickoff return in the second quarter.
But things went south briefly.
Wide receiver Tahj Washington lost a fumble on a punt return late in the game. Cornerback Ethan Bonner was called for holding on a punt return. And then punter Bradley Pinion had a 15-yard punt early in the second quarter on a ball that appeared to go off the side of his foot. And safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. was called for holding on a second quarter kickoff return.
Offensive line struggles are real
The starting offensive line had major pass protection issues in Thursday’s joint practice against the Giants, and the issues continued with the second-team offensive line Saturday.
The Dolphins’ starting offensive line was right tackle Caedan Wallace, right guard Josh Priebe, center Andrew Meyer, left guard Proctor and left tackle Charlie Heck. Proctor, the only starter to play, was taken out after one series and rookie D.J. Campbell, the rookie sixth-round pick, played left guard afterward.
It was a rough showing early.
Meyer allowed a sack to rookie nose tackle defensive tackle Bobby Jamison-Travis on the second series. Two plays later Priebe missed a block that allowed cornerback Dru Phillips to hit Wright and cause a fumble that linebacker Micah McFadden recovered. Wright had two fumbles last year on 75 touches and one fumble as a rookie on 71 touches.
On the third possession, Miller had pressure up the middle and barely got out of the end zone to avoid a sack for a safety.
Heck was called for holding on a play that negated a 17-yard run by running back Ollie Gordon II. The penalty wiped out a nice block by Campbell.
Giants QB Jameis Winston drives for a touchdown ahead of Dolphins LB Jacob Rodriguez during the first half of their preseason game on Saturday at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
WRs watch
Wide receiver is one of the three biggest areas of concern for the Dolphins, along with edge rusher and cornerback, and the wide receivers got off to a slow start Saturday.
Douglas, who has been hot and cold in training camp despite that one-handed highlight-reel reception last week vs. Washington for 28 yards, was cold in the first half Saturday. He didn’t have a reception or a target in the game.
Douglas was also quiet during the past week of practice. He had two receptions Tuesday in practice and one reception Thursday in the joint practice against the Giants.
Rookie wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., the fifth-round pick, had a nice 30-yard reception in the first half, a half that saw him end up two receptions for 32 yards, but on five targets. That was his total for the game.
Washington had a 12-yard reception, and wide receiver Tutu Atwell had no receptions on two targets with a drop.
Gay apparently in battle for roster spot
Veteran linebacker Willie Gay Jr., who ended with eight tackles, second-most on the team, was one of the few veteran players still on the field in the fourth quarter, which could be a sign he’s fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster. The only other expected starter still on the field at that time was safety Dante Trader Jr., who has been sidelined due to injury and likely needed the snaps.
Gay, the six-year veteran, is behind starters Brooks, Dodson and Moore and is being threatened by rookie linebackers Rodriguez and Louis, who also plays safety, as well as Jackson Woodard, who has special teams value and Ronnie Harrison Jr.
By the way, linebacker Cam Riley (team-best 10 tackles) was one of five Dolphins linebackers in the last decade to have 10 or more tackles in a preseason game.
Giants local products Burns, Mauigoa sit while Singletary has TD
Giants Pro Bowl outside linebacker Brian Burns, who attended American Heritage High, and Giants guard Francis Mauigoa, the former University of Miami standout who was the No. 10 pick of the draft, didn’t play Saturday. Burns got rest, as did most of New York’s starters, and Mauigoa left Thursday’s joint practice with a stinger, a nerve-related ailment that affects the shoulder and arm.
Giants running back Devin “Motor” Singletary, who attended FAU and American Heritage-Delray High, had a 13-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter.
Gronkowski gets chance but doesn’t show much
Quarterback Mark Gronowski, who was cut earlier in training camp and brought back after Ewers was injured, played the entire second half. He dropped a snap, causing a fumble in the third quarter. Gronowski didn’t have a good showing, ending 2 of 5 for 1 yard. But he did have two carries for 18 yards including a 17-yard run.