MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — After a rough Week 1, the Miami Dolphins finally got some promising injury news as Week 2 of training camp got underway Monday.
In our Dolphins practice report for Day 5, we explain what’s next for Terron Armstead, who has recovered enough from his pre-camp knee cleanup to be activated off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
Miami Dolphins Practice Report: Latest News From Training Camp
Return of Terron Armstead
Armstead was in uniform and did on-field work during practice Monday for the first time this camp and likely for the first time since last winter.
That’s a big step forward for the four-time Pro Bowler, who missed four games in 2022 with a wide range of issues, the most serious of which involved his foot. Armstead also dealt with a knee injury that reportedly required offseason arthroscopic surgery to fix.
“He had some cleanup work done,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said last week. “I’m not sure the technical term. But yeah, that was part of his offseason.”
McDaniel suggested at the time that Armstead wouldn’t remain on PUP long. He lasted a week on the list.
But expect the Dolphins to take the cautious approach with their best offensive lineman. Armstead did nothing more than individual drills but can also participate in walkthroughs that are closed to reporters.
In other injury news, five Dolphins players on the active roster did not practice: Cornerback Jalen Ramsey, running back Jeff Wilson Jr., cornerback Keion Crossen, and safety Brandon Jones.
Pads Come On
Both the temperature and the intensity ramped up big-time on Monday, as the Dolphins worked in pads during perhaps the hottest practice yet this year.
It was no coincidence that David Long Jr. had his best practice of camp. Long was all over the field — and more specifically, the backfield — blowing up running plays and making tackles for loss.
Plus, the Summer of Chubb continues, as Bradley Chubb made a series of splash plays. The early view here is that Chubb is set for a big year, reunited with Vic Fangio.
Other highlights by a defensive front that tight end Durham Smythe on Monday called “the most talented front seven in the NFL, best front seven I’ve seen here.”
- When defensive tackle Brandon Pili chucked Raheem Mostert to the ground on a good run stop.
- When EDGE defender Emmanuel Ogbah’s pressure impacted a Mike White throw that fell incomplete.
- When Christian Wilkins blew up a screen play that went nowhere. (Wilkins later had a TFL on a run play and a sack of Tua Tagovailoa late in practice.)
- When Zach Sieler physically displaced Dan Feeney to sack Skylar Thompson.
Quarterback Recap
We’ll have highlights from our post-practice chat with Thompson in a moment, but in the meantime, here’s a look at how Tagovailoa, White, and Thompson fared in the Dolphins’ most physical practice in months.
- Tagovailoa did a solid job handling an unrelenting pass rush, unofficially completing 8 of 11 attempts for 84 yards. Those figures would have been even better if not for a missed opportunity by Tyreek Hill on the left sideline.
- Thompson wasn’t his sharpest Monday, misfiring on 5 of 12 passing attempts, including a bad throw that Erik Ezukanma made worse by not failing to fight for the ball. As a result, Justin Bethel picked off the pass. Thompson was victimized by a bad drop, however. He had Jaylen Waddle for a deep ball, but the ball went through the receiver’s hands.
- White took a step back Monday after an excellent Sunday practice. He completed 2 of 7 attempts for just 23 in team work. One of those five incompletions came on a marvelous PBU by Cam Smith.
