Wrapping up week two of Miami Dolphins preseason camp with a few quick, noteworthy items that didn’t always turn into stories as the team sees roster shakeouts and the first week of the preseason upon them.

– The loss of fullback Alec Ingold as he joins the concussion protocol is far from a good thing, but it might help solve the depth of the running back position. Without Ingold last year, Jaylen Wright had an exceptionally difficult time seeing running lanes. Not having him the next month or more will likely help coaches interpret if Wright is seeing what he needs to this year to succeed. If not, the running back roster group is in dire need of improvement, despite having used draft capital on the position the last three seasons.

– Cornerback Cam Smith is coming off like a bad combination – high maintenance and low production. It’s one thing to have a Channing Tindall-like career, where you aren’t productive in your position group but play special teams and do everything asked of you. Smith adds to the lack of production an attitude that is easy to pick up and the comments from his head coach and general manager suggest they’ve tired of it. Despite his talent, expect Smith to get cut and the Dolphins to get nothing in return (if you were another team, what have you seen that would entice you to give up anything?)

– Linebacker Willie Gay Jr. has been of keen interest to those covering the team, just about every day after practice since arriving. There has been seemingly little mention, however, of why at 27 years old a player with such noticeable attributes has been released by two teams and currently resides second on the linebacker depth chart. There is no concrete evidence, but a source at one of his previous stops suggests that Gay’s physical gifts outweigh his ability to understand and play within a defensive structure. He’s only been able to log seven sacks in 72 career games prior to joining Miami. We’ll see if that changes under DC Anthony Weaver.

– A little “owning up to things” here as it relates to the Aqua & Coral Report’s UDFA rankings before camp. Based on all reports, CB Ethan Robinson has not made as much of an impact as we’d envisioned, though his role would be as a slot/nickel corner and a good deal can be learned between now and cuts. The others: No. 2 Andrew Armstrong is competing for a roster spot; No. 3 Eugene Asante was reportedly on the field with the 1s in opponent goal line drills, which would be a good sign for him considering his best shot to make the team is on special teams; No. 4 John Saunders Jr. has reportedly been making plays lately from his safety spot ; No. 5 TE Jaylin Conyers has been an absentee and looks like he may be going the same injury route Tahj Washington appeared to last year, hopefully aiming toward 2026 training camp ; and inside lineman Addison West has not yet been cut, though there hasn’t been much talk of his work either.

– If rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant can finish this season with 20+ tackles, three-plus TFLs and one-plus sacks, consider it a good season. Grant wasn’t brought to Miami to put up numbers, he was drafted to help others put up numbers. And no, this isn’t Raekwon Davis 2.0 – Grant has serious upside. The best “tell” on Grant this year though will be Zach Sieler’s performance, as the guess here is he is going to have a career year.

– Speaking of Grant, in taking a look at him during camp interviews (no pads), one has to think that the growth for him will be off the charts after this season. Despite his remarkable lower-body strength and relative athleticism, Grant’s upper body can still use the offseason in an NFL strength and conditioning program. Add increased upper body strength to the lower physicality as well as his long arms and Grant will be a handful.

– When it comes to recent free agent additions to the cornerback room, Chris Grier and the front office had two choices – decent players with no discernible character issues or players with a chance to contribute who come with a history. In looking at the direction they chose, job security played out over locker room culture or the Dolphins believe that the existing, redefined culture, can handle any newcomers who might disrupt it.

– It’s been nice to see tackle Patrick Paul turn heads in camp. The slander of last year and the offseason was invalid, premature and somewhat lazy. Yes, the Miami defensive front he has been showing out against in camp should be good, but keep in mind the reps he was being judged on as a rookie came in relief action against the likes of the Houston Texans defensive front (one of the best in the league), Myles Garrett (one of the best players in the league) and playing a position (right tackle) he had never played before versus the Jets.

– The collective thought at this point seems to be that Quinn Ewers has excelled in his first camp as a Dolphins quarterback, but not so much so that anyone is willing to suggest Zach Wilson’s backup job is at risk. The assumption here is that Wilson has seen significant growth since last taking the field in New York, which would be nice considering his traits. But given Ewers’ experience in a similar system at Texas, watch how each player does in the preseason as it relates to comfort in the system because it’s never been about Wilson’s talent, only whether he knows what to do with it.

– Tight end Tanner Conner’s comments to the media on Mike McDaniel were insightful. And while there does seem to be a small change in the way McDaniel is operating this year, hearing Conner say that he hasn’t changed is actually a relief. The BEST case scenario for Miami is if culture change can take place and McDaniel still remain the same guy. Faux authenticity is easy to spot and not something anybody will see as leadership.

– Sometimes (see also: a lot of times) one has to take what WR Tyreek Hill says to the press with a grain of salt. But there were times in the past few years when Hill did, in fact, seem to be freelancing, so his recent comments about it being the first time he has understood the Dolphins offense in his tenure with the team may not be hogwash. If it is true, the combination of Hill being in better shape this year and having a grasp of where he needs to be play-in and play-out will do wonders for his teammates.

“I’m gonna’ be completely honest, I didn’t understand the offense for the first three years of me being here. But this year, I feel like Coach (senior passing game coordinator Bobby Slowik) has explained it a lot.” – Tyreek Hill 8/3/25

– Hill has mentioned new wide receivers coach Robert Prince and his attention to detail and accountability. First, it’s telling as to why Wes Welker was let go when you hear Hill saying he wasn’t dialed in. Second, having a top player like Hill be a conduit for the offense instead of the guy late to meetings and running his own routes will have a great effect on younger players. Finally, hope is that Prince’s teachings will make it to Erik Ezukanma, a player who may be as physically-gifted as any at the position but is in serious risk of flaming out and not being around when the regular season starts. He’s had long enough to figure things out at this point.

– From this vantage point, the team passing on tight end Noah Fant was a good thing. Miami’s offense will not be complete until it can add a dual-threat tight end to serve as a true Y. Right now the only player on the roster with that possibility is probably Darren Waller, though his receiving skills are obviously his most desirable trait.

– Without having seen a practice and the first preseason game this week, take it all with a grain of salt but if I am naming five receivers I want to keep, its Hill, Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Andrew Armstrong.

– From the sounds coming out of practice, UDFA LB Eugene Asante might have a better chance than even we anticipated. A special teams ace who can fly (4.48 at the combine), Asante was reportedly in a package with the 1s, working on the opponents goal line. I would imagine he’s lining up in a strong safety role where despite his inexperience at the position, his recovery speed makes it do-able, while the threat of sending him as a rushing threat is enticing. If all that’s indeed the case, a) Asante is a lock for the 53 already and b) all eyes turn to Channing Tindall’s spot. 

– Tackle Austin Jackson’s recent injury spurred this question: which is more manageable for Miami this year, a Tua Tagavailoa injury or the type of offensive line decimation that has taken place the last few years?

– I recently heard “the depth is the worst of the McDaniel Era on the offensive line,” though I’m unclear on how this is possible when their depth in recent years has pretty much been starting.  

– There hasn’t been much discussion about the battle at punter, but it is one of contrasting styles between boomer Ryan Stonehouse and location-specialist Jake Bailey. Stonehouse was let go in Tennessee, but it’s hard to imagine new special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman coming in and not having a desire to keep the punter he’s familiar with (Tennessee).