MIAMI GARDENS \u2014 When Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas took the field at last week\u2019s preseason opener on the road against the Washington Commanders, he found it surreal that he finally made it to his first NFL game.<\/p>\n
\u201cI walked the field before the game started to take it all in, like, \u2018This is what you prayed for. You were once a kid (wanting) to be in the league. Now, you\u2019re here,\u2019 \u201d he detailed last week after the exhibition at Northwest Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, the national anthem was just like, \u2018This is crazy. You\u2019re finally here.\u2019 It felt good.\u201d<\/p>\n
He\u2019s not the only one going through those emotions this month, as the Dolphins play their preseason slate. Miami has 13 rookies in its draft class, plus several other undrafted rookies also seeing their first professional action.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins\u2019 second preseason game brings the team to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time this year, a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday against the New York Giants. As it\u2019s uncertain how much veteran starters will play<\/a> in the exhibition, the rookies figure to be featured.<\/p>\n As Douglas, the third-round pick out of Texas Tech, soaked in the moment pregame last week, that moment wasn\u2019t too big for him when he got the opportunity to make a highlight-reel catch on Miami\u2019s opening series.<\/p>\n He fought through pass interference, with his right arm held, to make a one-handed catch with his left on a third down that kept what eventually turned into a touchdown drive going.<\/p>\n Douglas redeemed himself with that one, as one play earlier, he made a rookie mistake, letting his left foot slide out of bounds to turn what should\u2019ve been a routine sideline catch go for an incomplete pass. He got the learning experience and the highlight, all in two plays.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was super fun going against somebody else,\u201d Douglas said then. \u201cGoing out there and getting somebody different, and then, honestly, the tempo of the game was not as fast as it is in practice. You kind of get a breather in the game, so it made everything a lot more fun.\u201d<\/p>\n Dolphins rookies get to go against an opponent for the second time Saturday. They also got their second taste of an NFL joint practice Thursday with the Giants.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s really cool. It\u2019s something that\u2019s very unique to the NFL,\u201d linebacker and second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez said after Thursday drills. \u201cYou don\u2019t ever do this growing up. You don\u2019t ever do it in high school, in college.\u201d<\/p>\n Rodriguez has rapidly ascended with a standout training camp. At the joint practice, he intercepted Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, leaping up for the ball as he was dropped back into zone coverage.<\/p>\n \u201cI was just kind of playing the defense,\u201d he said. \u201cI think it was just a really advantageous position for us. I think in that period it was either second or third down and forever. So it was kind of rough on the offensive part from a play-calling standpoint, so I was just kind of there doing my job with the play call that was called.\u201d<\/p>\n First-round pick and cornerback Chris Johnson had his chance at an interception in the first preseason game against Washington. But as he trailed the intended receiver and the ball was thrown behind its target, he dropped it in the end zone.<\/p>\n \u201cI should\u2019ve picked it,\u201d Johnson said, \u201cbut it is what it is. Just got to make that play next time.\u201d<\/p>\n Johnson felt a similar moment to Douglas right before he was stepping onto the field for his first defensive series. It came after the offense\u2019s long scoring drive, and he took a deep breath before locking into focus.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was really cool just to experience first time in another stadium, playing,\u201d he said. \u201cBut also, I was really comfortable doing it.\u201d<\/p>\n For offensive lineman and fellow first-round pick Kadyn Proctor, he admits there were nerves before he settled in.<\/p>\n \u201cReally, just kind of had to get the first play out, get the jitters out,\u201d Proctor said, \u201cand then, from there on, it\u2019s just play football. It\u2019s as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n The left guard enjoyed getting to block all over the field on the opening drive. And on running back De\u2019Von Achane\u2019s 1-yard touchdown run, the play went to his side.<\/p>\n \u201cYou got to love it,\u201d Proctor said. \u201cIt\u2019s really a big-man block right there, and I\u2019m glad I could help out the team. It was kind of special going to film and going to the iPad after that and every offensive lineman ended up in the end zone driving a dude in the end zone. That\u2019s what we want to see at the end of the (drive).\u201d<\/p>\n Different Miami rookies are going through a variety of experiences.<\/p>\n Fourth-round linebacker selections Trey Moore and Kyle Louis present their unique versatility. Moore, who is vying for a starting role as a Sam linebacker in the base 4-3 package, can also rush the passer on the edge. Louis has started taking safety reps<\/a> in practice, and may end up on the back end of the defense Saturday.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can do kind of everything on the football field,\u201d Rodriguez said of Louis. \u201cHe really helps us out in getting a strong guy to fit the run if we need an extra hat in there, but also he\u2019s athletic enough and savvy enough playing football that he can play in coverage and he can play in the post and he can play a half. He can do everything on the football field on the defensive side.\u201d<\/p>\n As Douglas is shining in camp, fellow wide receiver and third-round pick Chris Bell has gotten his first few NFL practices after being activated from the non-football injury list<\/a>, completing his rehab of his torn ACL from college at Louisville.<\/p>\n