The following is a look at some of the players and matchups to keep an eye on in Sunday’s preseason Game 1 between the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears.

Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears

Soldier Field

Sunday, Aug. 10

1:00 p.m. EDT

NFL Network

Players to watch Sunday mentioned in this story:

72           G             Jonah Savaiinaea

5             RB           Jaylen Wright

8             RB           Alexander Mattison

31           RB           Ollie Gordon

19           WR         Andrew Armstrong

81           WR         Theo Wease Jr.

84           WR         Erik Ezukanma

80           TE           Tanner Conner

90           DT           Kenneth Grant

94           DT           Jordan Phillips

23           CB           Jack Jones

45           CB           BJ Adams

46           CB           Ethan Robinson

35           CB           John Saunders Jr.

51           LB           Eugene Asante

41           LB           Channing Tindall

16           P             Jake Bailey

49           P             Ryan Stonehouse

OFFENSE

– Aside from injuries (A. Jackson), a top concern early will be rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea, so hope here is that he gets reps beyond when most first teamers have taken a seat. Reports that Savaiinaea was manhandled and put on his seat recently by fellow rookie Kenneth Grant is slightly concerning. Sure, it’s just one rep, but a player as wide as Savaiinaea shouldn’t be getting treated that way by anybody first off. More importantly, it’s worth concern any time a lineman switches away from whatever is his natural side, and for Savaiinaea, that was the right side in college. Keep an eye on his feet in the preseason, particularly in pass protection. As for Sunday in Chicago, keep an eye on how he does against Bears’ DT Gervon Dexter, who’s a handful at 6-6, 326 and is coming off a 51 tackle, five sack sophomore campaign.

– The hope here is that we don’t see much if any of Devon Achane. That leaves four quarters for exploration of the only three backs left, Jaylen Wright, Alexander Mattison and Ollie Gordon. Despite his youth, athleticism and draft status, Wright has not shown consistent enough grasp of where the hole is going to be for him and with Alec Ingold in concussion protocol, he will have to do it on his own. It is not at all unreasonable to suggest that any of the three could take the RB2 spot by being the best back the next three-plus weeks. Mattison will be looking to atone for a pair of fumbles in Friday’s joint practice.

– There is no telling who is going to play at receiver in the preseason opener, but one battle to watch is who performs best between UDFAs Andrew Armstrong and Theo Wease Jr., two players who have performed well in camp and offer somewhat similar traits. Wease is a little quicker and plays a little less physical, while Armstrong’s physicality should start to show up around now and at 6-4, he’s Miami’s tallest receiver.

– It would also be nice to see 6-3 WR Erik Ezukanma put together a consistently strong preseason. It’s hard to feel comfortable with him at this point, though his last couple practices seem encouraging, as is the fact he was not hurt after a collision in Friday’s practice with the Bears. If receivers coach Robert Prince can break through to him, he’s talented enough to be the team’s No. 4, without a doubt. Emphasize: talented enough. It’s been the non-physical things that seem to hold Ezukanma back.

– In a similar category but for different reasons — keep an eye on Tanner Conner’s blocking. Yes, he needs to take advantage of any opportunities in the pass game and not have a slip there, but whether or not he can help in the F tight end role and supplement Ingold may be the difference in a roster spot this year, healthy or not.

DEFENSE

– There hasn’t been much mention of Miami’s rookie defensive tackles thus far in camp, but it could just be that the team is just ramping up activities in pads. Against the Bears, keep an eye on Kenneth Grant’s fitness level and how many plays he’s taken out, assuming the Dolphins will start in a normal defensive rotation. Fellow rookie Jordan Phillips – whose name has not made reports in either a positive or negative way this camp – needs to develop his game outside of pure strength. Watch to see how he works with his hands and how quickly (or not) he is locked up by his opposition. 

– It has been a nice surprise hearing the level of confidence second-year player Storm Duck has been playing with. Big thing to watch against the Bears on Sunday is who gets the snaps opposite him. The primary battle at this point seems to be between Kendall Sheffield and Jack Jones, but they have contrasting styles somewhat and Jones’ skillset better suits playing outside. It would be nice to count rookie Jason Marshall Jr. in this group but uncertainty about his health isn’t helping his case early.

– Without having yet done a roster deep dive, I’m still watching UDFA cornerbacks BJ Adams and Ethan Robinson for one of the final roster spots in that group. Without seeing them, it sounds as if Adams has had a more productive camp, but Robinson’s strengths are on the inside and it will be interesting to see how each does in NFL game action, regardless of what quarter they enter (though that may be an early tell).

– Watching film of John Saunders Jr. last year at Ole Miss and a little of his highlights from Miami (Ohio) prior to that, two things stood out – he has good wide receiver hands and he likes to get after ball carriers when don’t see him coming. If he can keep flashing big play skills, he’s another UDFA with a shot and worth watching Sunday.

SPECIAL TEAMS

– A question hoping to be answered quickly: Does a Craig Aukerman-coached unit feel any different than the previous seasons under the embattled coach Danny Crossman.

– Head coach Mike McDaniel said he met up with Jack Jones early in the a.m. on his first day with the Dolphins — in the special teams room. Jones apparently had a hit on coverage teams in the first joint practice that brought cheers from the Dolphins’ sideline Friday. That’s great news for the Dolphins and for Jones’ roster aspirations, who left practice later with a leg cramp.

– While Jones is contributing on special teams, LB Channing Tindall apparently had a costly gaff on kick coverage during Friday’s joint practice. Newcomer Eugene Asante is a player to keep an eye on Sunday — particularly on special teams — but also in where (and when) he is used defensively. These two appear to be in a direct roster battle, especially given that Tindall will not be a contributor on defense given the increased depth and talent at linebacker and his history of not denting the lineup when the opportunity was greater.

– Guessing that the competing Miami punters will each be given a half. I’ll be focusing more on Ryan Stonehouse than Jake Bailey. Bailey is a known commodity, while Stonehouse’s net average is what will ultimately decide the roster spot between these two and what we’ll be watching this preseason. Stonehouse’s leg is unquestionably stronger, but Bailey has historically been better directionally and placing balls inside opponent’s 20/10-yard lines.