The Miami Dolphins took the method of one thing nearer to a costume rehearsal early within the exhibition towards the Las Vegas Raiders — no less than for 2 drives.
After the Dolphins rested practically all their starters in final week’s preseason opener towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, coach Mike McDaniel let a number of of his high gamers, together with beginning quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, play within the 15-13 loss on Saturday evening at Hard Rock Stadium.
The Dolphins listed left sort out Terron Armstead, cornerback Xavien Howard, huge receiver Jaylen Waddle and fullback Alec Ingold because the starters on the depth chart that have been introduced as out 90 minutes earlier than kickoff. Miami additionally had security Eric Rowe, fullback John Lovett, tight finish Tanner Conner, outdoors linebacker Brennan Scarlett and sort out Greg Little as pregame inactives.
At kickoff, it was revealed on the CBS4 broadcast that star huge receiver Tyreek Hill and fellow veterans in operating again Raheem Mostert and out of doors linebacker Melvin Ingram have been additionally set to take a seat. McDaniel mentioned at halftime of the published that resting the three veterans was not injury-related.
“It’s the imperfect situation that is the preseason for the game of football,” mentioned McDaniel postgame. “You’re trying to balance getting guys prepared and not putting them at risk in exhibition.”
Waddle didn’t observe all week forward of the exhibition with an undisclosed damage. Armstead didn’t observe on Thursday after additionally lacking workforce drills in Wednesday’s session. He had been growing his workload the earlier two practices throughout coaching camp as he will get sport prepared for the common season coming off offseason knee surgical procedure.
Conventionally, the second of three preseason video games is the best alternative for a coach to play most of his starters, permitting backups and roster longshots to take the preseason finale and relaxation veterans forward of Week 1.
Of the starters, tight finish Mike Gesicki, the Dolphins’ franchise-tagged participant, curiously was left in via your complete first half. He completed with three catches on six targets for 27 yards.
“He needs to continue doing what he’s doing, which is completely committing in the run and pass game to the offense,” mentioned McDaniel of Gesicki, who additionally indicated postgame he wants the additional reps in a brand new offense. “He’s a couple of plays on the ball away from having a really good game that he feels good about.”
Tagovailoa made his preseason debut going right into a key third NFL season. He went 6 of 8 for 58 yards in two drives that netted 3 factors.
Tagovailoa sat final week on the Buccaneers with McDaniel citing a confidence in him from what he had seen from the left-handed signal-caller in observe. In three practices this previous week, Tagovailoa threw six interceptions — some in late-game drive conditions the place he was pressured to throw downfield into protection with time operating out.
Standout second-year security Jevon Holland, who had 4 of the observe interceptions towards Tagovailoa, was amongst a slew of different starters obtainable to play after they rested in Tampa final week. Some others: Running again Chase Edmonds, middle Connor Williams, linebackers Jerome Baker and Elandon Roberts, defensive linemen Emmanuel Ogbah, Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler.
“With each player, it’s kind of case by case,” McDaniel mentioned. “You have to assess everyone where they’re at and how much they need that preseason so they can feel 100 percent full go against the Patriots [in Week 1].”
In addition to the inactive gamers, the Dolphins even have cornerback Byron Jones nonetheless on the physically-unable-to-perform record following decrease left leg surgical procedure within the offseason. And cornerback Trill Williams and tight finish Adam Shaheen are on injured reserve.
Several Dolphins sustained accidents on Saturday, together with three cornerbacks in Nik Needham, Keion Crossen and Mackensie Alexander, together with operating again Salvon Ahmed. Needham and Ahmed withstood obvious hand accidents.
“There were some dings,” McDaniel mentioned. “We had some hand injuries. There’s nothing fatal in terms of long-term issues.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com