Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik speaks to reporters during a press conference at the Baptist Health Training Complex on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla.
Photo by Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
A six-pack of Dolphins notes on a Tuesday:
▪ The play of the Dolphins’ veteran receivers (Malik Washington aside) has been underwhelming in camp, and Miami added a young veteran Tuesday, claiming Ryan Miller off waivers from the New York Giants.
Miami waived receiver Tahj Washington, a seventh-round pick in 2024.
Miller, 6-2, has appeared in 25 career games with six starts in three seasons with Tampa Bay (2023-25) and has 14 receptions for 162 yards (11.6 average) and three touchdowns. He caught 12 passes in 2024 (while playing 275 offensive snaps) and two last season in 123 snaps.
Tampa Bay waived him Dec. 10, and the Giants claimed him on Dec. 11 and then re-signed him in April.
Miller entered the NFL as an undrafted college free agent in 2023 with Tampa Bay after a collegiate career at Furman (2018-22), where he played tight end and appeared in 53 career games with 42 starts and recorded 151 receptions for 2,146 yards (14.2 avg.) and 28 touchdowns. He earned All-American honors and was an All-Southern Conference selection in 2020 and 2021.
Washington departs Miami with career totals of three receptions for 37 yards in six games with one start.
▪ The Dolphins might not do a lot of things well this season. But if there’s one thing they hang their proverbial hat on, it’s their running game.
Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik on Tuesday explained why the team is so confident in its ability to do that, beyond De’Von Achane’s talents.
“The run game has been one of the highlights” of training camp, Slowik said. “Our O-line is equipped to run the ball. Kadyn Proctor, you have massive humans on the left side that can move really well. You can get on the perimeter, get on the edge, can do inside zone, you can do stuff with Malik [Willis] in the run game.
“Obviously, De’Von has speed to get to the edge; he can hit it up the middle as well. Jonah Savaiinaea has really done a good job this camp of adjusting to right guard. [Right tackle] Austin Jackson has been great creating movement. Brew [center Aaron Brewer] is Brew. Probably the biggest thing in the run game that we do — and not everyone does — is our tight ends. They have really embraced the run game. You can feel their impact on the edges.”
But the Dolphins finished Tuesday’s practice with four tight ends nursing injuries: Ben Sims, Will Kacmarek, Seydou Traore and Cole Turner, who left early in Tuesday’s session. That left Greg Dulcich, Jeremiah Franklin and new addition Ethan Conner as the only healthy tight ends.
▪ Perhaps no player on the bubble has made a stronger case for a roster spot than inside linebacker Jackson Woodard, who had a fumble recovery in Saturday’s preseason loss to the Giants and several big plays in Tuesday’s practice, including an interception of Malik Willis and a pass deflection.
Woodard said he has found a way to avoid feeling anxiety before teams must cut down to 53 players at 6 p.m. Sunday.
For Woodard, his faith eliminates the stress.
“Once I figured out what mattered in life, and what my real purpose on this Earth is, to love on others, to build others up, to further the kingdom of God, everything else just fell in line,” he said. “I’m here to love others, to be a blessing. That gave me ultimate peace. This is my job, not my purpose. Whatever happens, I’m blessed.”
At the very least, Woodard should be on the practice squad, if he’s not on the 53.
Woodard went undrafted out of UNLV in 2025, and the Dolphins plucked him off the Texans’ practice squad in mid-December.
Defensive lineman Keith Cooper Jr. also continues to make a strong case for a spot on the 53-man roster.
▪ Quick stuff part 1: Why did the Giants get so many quarterback pressures during Saturday’s game?
“We weren’t on our assignments,” Slowik said. “[We] probably [are] going to end up being one of the younger offensive rosters in the NFL. The consistency in our assignments is something we have to continue to improve on. We have a long way to go.”…
Slowik likes what he has seen from rookie receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. since he returned from an injury a week ago.
“He’s really fast,” Slowik said. “He has a different gear in speed. He made some really nice plays in the last game. He really shows up in competitive situations. That kind of jumps off. We’ve got to get the consistency going. He’s been exciting to have out there.”
▪ Quick stuff part 2: Slowik liked that Willis gathered the offensive players and seemed to deliver a stern message after a poor start by the offense in Tuesday’s session. “You always want your quarterback to be a leader,” Slowik said. “You want your leaders to always take command and control.. When you’re going through a moment of adversity — today wasn’t necessarily the best offensive practice — and we kind of had to get it going there. So you always want to rely on your leaders to do that.”…
Former Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. have been sharing first-team reps this week, and Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said he plans to play starters during Friday’s preseason finale at the Dolphins. Hafley has declined to say if he will play starters Friday….
Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer, who was placed on injured reserve last week with a knee injury, was released with an injury settlement. He hopes to catch on with another team sometime this season, per ESPN. Salyer was told he would be given a chance to compete for a starting job, but he couldn’t overtake right guard Jonah Savaiinaea, who impressed coaches with his work at right guard.
▪ After throwing out the first pitch at a Marlins game this summer, Hafley returned the favor by inviting Marlins manager Clayton McCullough and his staff to training camp on Tuesday. McCullough left impressed.
“That was a lot of fun,” McCullough said from the Marlins dugout before Miami’s Tuesday evening game against the Boston Red Sox. “I appreciate the whole Dolphins organization, Haf and his whole staff, they were incredibly welcoming and hospitable to the crew of us that went over there and watched practice.”
McCullough said he and Hafley spoke for 10 to 15 minutes after practice. “What a great person, the right person here for the job in Miami to get things going,” McCullough said. “Certainly pulling for Jeff, and enjoyed him taking 10 or 15 minutes of his time – I know how busy he is – to spend a little time.
“We shared our own experiences, what we’re going through at a given time. Very similar things we’re dealing with, chopping it up a little bit. I appreciate his openness and taking some time.”
McCullough said this was his first time attending an NFL practice on the field. “What a beautiful facility, first class,” he said.
Here are several news items and injury updates from Hafley’s media session on Tuesday.
Here’s a look at many things that happened at practice on Tuesday.
This story was originally published August 25, 2026 at 5:12 PM.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.