He had four targets, catching just two for 22 yards.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt great\u2014I\u2019m not going to lie\u2014just to step back out there on the field for my first NFL game being in Miami,\u201d Bell said. \u201c<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t the most glamorous first outing, but it should certainly take the pressure off the rookie ahead of the regular season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sept. 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be ready,\u201d Bell said. \u201cI\u2019m ready now but I\u2019ll definitely will be ready in two weeks. I really needed this game just to step on a NFL field and play against some competition other than my teammates.\u201d<\/p>\n
WHY ARE VETERANS PLAYING THIS MUCH?<\/p>\n
What the Dolphins will do at linebacker will be heavily scrutinized.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because the Dolphins drafted three\u2014Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis and Trey Moore\u2014despite already having a solid group that included Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson and Willie Gay Jr.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s obvious: some veterans\u2019 job could be in danger.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because both Dodson and Gay played extended reps not just in the last few weeks against the Washington Commanders and New York Giants but again Friday evening.<\/p>\n
Sure, injuries could have a lot to do with it. Moore just had ankle surgery. Rodriguez has an undisclosed ailment. The same goes for Brooks\u2013who obviously was in no danger of being cut.<\/p>\n
Still, it\u2019s rather surprising that Dodson and Gay, both of whom are seven-year veterans, would get this many reps in the preseason finale. The duo would finish with six total tackles a piece, with the Dodson forcing a fumble and Gay recovering one.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had to have guys that could play in the game so we felt like we wanted to get them in,\u201d coach Jeff Hafley said, explaining that the veterans\u2019 extended run was a result of injuries but also wanting to get a better evaluation.<\/p>\n
Added Hafley: \u201cThey were healthy, and I thought they did a really nice job.\u201d<\/p>\n
DEFENSE FORCES TURNOVERS<\/p>\n
One big positive from the Dolphins\u2019 preseason finale was the three forced turnovers.<\/p>\n
The Tagovailoa fumble came first in the opening quarter. Then came a fumble courtesy of running back Brian Robinson Jr., which Dodson forced and linebacker Jackson Woodard recovered.<\/p>\n
Last but not least was cornerback Miles Battle\u2019s pick that came in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins suffered a narrow loss, yet they certainly won the turnover battle three to one, something that should make the defense happy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe always have an emphasis to get three or we\u2019re running,\u201d safety Dante Trader Jr. said.<\/p>\n
OFFENSIVE PROGRESS<\/p>\n
In Cam Miller\u2019s first start at quarterback against the Giants<\/a>, the Dolphins\u2019 offense had accumulated 102 yards by game\u2019s end.<\/p>\n The following week: 147 yards at halftime.<\/p>\n That might not seem significant, but progress is progress.<\/p>\n While the run game yielded 78 yards, Miller had an improved day, completing 44% of his passes for 71 yards. Two receivers\u2014Bell and Jalen Tolbert, who caught three balls for 27 yards with the North Dakota State standout at the helm \u2014 helped drive Miller\u2019s total.<\/p>\n \u201cJust confidence in myself,\u201d Miller said when asked about the biggest improvement from the Giants game, \u201cknowing that I can go out there and do it against the best.\u201d<\/p>\n Quarterback Mark Gronowski came in at halftime and finished with 97 yards on 50% completion, a much better performance than his single-yard performance against the Giants. He did, however, lose a fumble.<\/p>\n Receivers Terrace Marshall Jr. and AJ Henning also played well, chipping in two catches for 37 yards and a single grab for 31 yards, respectively. The offense would end with 236 total yards, more than double last week\u2019s outing.<\/p>\n Next up: roster cuts.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just super grateful for the opportunity,\u201d Gronowski said. \u201cIt\u2019s always a blessing to be out there playing with those guys. I felt like I left everything I could out there with those guys.\u201d<\/p>\n This story was originally published August 28, 2026 at 10:06 PM.<\/p>\n
![\"Profile](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/PROFILE.jpg\")