Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa starts preseason game at Texans, along with other starters
HOUSTON — Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a number of other starters saw early action in Saturday’s preseason game at the Houston Texans.
Tagovailoa was not on a list of players “not expected to play,” released 90 minutes before kickoff by the team. Among top Dolphins players that were listed as inactive for Miami’s second exhibition game: Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, offensive tackle Terron Armstead and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.
That meant starters who didn’t play in last week’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons that started and were active Saturday in Houston included: Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, running back Raheem Mostert, center Connor Williams, right guard Robert Hunt, defensive tackle Zach Sieler, linebackers Jerome Baker, David Long Jr., Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb and cornerback Xavien Howard.
Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was noncommittal throughout the week on whether he would play Tagovailoa and the rest of his projected starters, citing that he needed to see them in Wednesday and Thursday’s joint practices in Houston first.
While McDaniel didn’t disclose his Saturday plans with Tagovailoa during the week of practice, he seemed inclined to want to get him preseason snaps before the exhibition season concluded.
Armstead, who historically hasn’t played much in the preseason anyway, is recovering from a lower right leg injury sustained in Thursday’s practice against the Texans. He has tweeted that he’s targeting the regular-season opener on Sept. 10 for a return.
Waddle is nursing a midsection ailment from the previous week of practice against the Falcons before the first exhibition. He did not practice during this past week.
Wilkins, in addition to being an established fifth-year veteran on the roster, is also in the midst of a contract dispute with the Dolphins. He’s looking to secure a long-term deal as he’s set to play in 2023 on the final year of his rookie contract after his fifth-year option was picked up in 2022. For the past two weeks, Wilkins has not participated in team portions of practice.
Ramsey will miss at least the start of the regular season after undergoing surgery on the meniscus in his left knee.
Other Dolphins listed as inactives: running backs Jeff Wilson Jr. and Myles Gaskin, safety Brandon Jones, fullback Alec Ingold, cornerbacks Cam Smith, Keion Crossen, Justin Bethel and Ethan Bonner, offensive linemen Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton and wide receiver Braylon Sanders.
Eichenberg and Cotton are two of the players competing for the Dolphins’ starting left guard spot, so Isaiah Wynn and Robert Jones saw extensive action in the preseason game against the Texans. Eichenberg was limited during the past week since the preseason opener against the Falcons.
McDaniel, last preseason in his first year working with Tagovailoa, did not play the starting quarterback in the preseason opener but then got him starts in the second and third exhibitions before the regular season began.
Phillips primed for breakout
Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips stood out all week in joint practices with the Texans with at least three sacks between the two sessions and several more pressures on Houston quarterbacks.
“I just think my confidence as a pass-rusher has increased a lot,” Phillips said Thursday. “This week, I was going against George Fant. I faced George Fant my rookie year when he played for the Jets, and I had no answers for him at all. That boy was doing me all game.
“This week, I felt a lot more competitive against him. So little things like that. I’m big on the process and not being result-oriented. I’ve been putting in the work for the last three years and for it to show a little bit, it means a lot to me. I just continue to try to get better every day and do my thing.”
Phillips was among league leaders in pass-rush win rate in 2022, but it only resulted in seven sacks, which didn’t match the 8 1/2 he had as a rookie in 2021.
He’s utilizing his tenacity, speed and explosiveness, and hopes it will only be highlighted in new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme.
“His defense gives us a lot of freedom and a lot of room for us to use our athleticism and things like that to be disruptive,” Phillips said. “I think that’s one thing I’m really good at, is being disruptive and having some production. I hope I’m a good fit for his defense. I hope he thinks that.”
One thing from Fangio’s defense is that he relies less on the blitz than previous defensive coordinator Josh Boyer. This could mean more opportunities where the traditional pass rushers are depended on to reach the quarterback while more defenders in pass coverage could lead to more time to get there.