The Miami Dolphins are set to ramp up the intensity of their preseason as they host the Washington Commanders at Hard Rock Stadium on Saturday evening. This marks a departure from their previous exhibition against the Atlanta Falcons, as the Dolphins plan to feature most of their starters, who did not see action last week.
Fans can expect to see key players like Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, Jalen Ramsey, and first-round draft pick Chop Robinson take the field. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel expressed his intention for starters to participate, although he noted that decisions on specific players would be made collectively by the coaching staff. He expects known starters to gain some experience during the game.
However, the Dolphins will still be without Tua’s secondary receivers, Jaylen Waddle and newcomer Odell Beckham Jr., both of whom are currently injured. Concerns are growing regarding Beckham, who is yet to make an appearance on the practice field since signing a $3 million contract.
It remains uncertain how long the starters will play, but early estimates suggest they might see two or three series in the first half before the focus shifts to players vying for roster spots.
In the ongoing discussion about preseason structure, there are calls to shorten preseason games and extend the regular season, with this month serving as a prime example of the effectiveness of preseason matchups.
In game updates, Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders missed a 49-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, which followed a drive led by QB Mike White. Later, Sanders made a 33-yard field goal to push Miami ahead 13-6 early in the third quarter after a notable 59-yard run by Chris Brooks, who left the game after suffering a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Commanders kicker Riley Patterson struggled with kicks, including a missed 43-yard attempt, while his successful 46-yarder brought Washington closer at 7-3. The Dolphins maintained a lead of 10-6 at halftime, thanks to Sanders’ 35-yard field goal after a 9-play drive orchestrated by quarterback Skylar Thompson.
Tagovailoa opened the scoring for the Dolphins with a 13-yard touchdown pass to River Cracraft, completing all five of his passes for 51 yards on the drive.
Tonight’s matchup kicks off at 7 p.m. at Hard Rock Stadium, with broadcast options available on various local channels and streaming services for viewers outside the market.