SAFETY ANDREW WINGARD
IN-GAME SIDELINE INTERVIEW
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025
(On wearing the uniform but not playing) “Yeah, for sure. Like the water boy, I just wanted to
get in there and be the best I can be. No, it was good. The guys played well. Thankfully didn’t
have to clean up, but it was good.”
(On how he feels following training camp) “Still feel good and excited about our
progress. My body feels really good, which is number one. I am excited to go
play meaningful games now.”
(On the progress made during training camp) “A lot. You saw it in the first preseason game,
we had some miscommunication and stuff. It is like a correlation to how it will go in the
season, we made the improvements and played a lot better. You saw the young guys out
there giving their ones the work. So that’s just the culture we’ve built. Again, you never
know what’s going to happen, but you got to go do it in the regular season.”
(On what is different this season for him) “Like I said, I feel like it’s a new era for me. So,
you’re in year seven, where do you want to go from here? I still want to keep it going, so
that is kind of where I’m at.”
(On how the pressure generated from the defensive can translate to the regular season)
“Oh yeah. Our D-line has been going crazy. In that joint practice the other day, they had to
have had like four or five sacks, that’s really good on the back end. You’re sitting back there
kind of just watching, which is always a good thing. That will create opportunities for us on
the back end. Coach [Defensive Line Coach Matt] Edwards is doing a great job with
them. Just watching the tape of all those guys, there are some dogs in there. [DL] B.J. Green
[II], undrafted rookie, dog. So, I think we’ve got a good group back there and they will have a
really good year.”
CORNERBACK JOURDAN LEWIS
IN-GAME SIDELINE INTERVIEW
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025
(On how excited he is for this season) “I’m extremely excited, man. A new role, being a
leader on the defense. I’m extremely excited to see how well we’re prepared and see how
good we come out and show how good our camp was.”
(On how he has embraced being a leader) “From day one, the GM [James] Gladstone told
me, just come be yourself. Liam [Head Coach Liam Coen] told me come be yourself. Camp
[Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile] said come be yourself. So they just told me,
come out there and just do what I do. Bring that infectious energy and be the leader and a
playmaker that they came to sign.”
(On the energy in the CB room) “Like you said, it’s full of energy and Jarrian [CB Jarrian
Jones] he’s a trick bag every time you see him. So he keeps me on my toes, he keeps me
young and those guys, it’s a pleasure to see them play. They are really talented young guys
that that want to learn how to play the position and be playmakers. So, I couldn’t ask for
better young guys than those guys.”
(On WR/DB Travis Hunter) “He’s a playmaker. Just his intelligence, understanding the game
on both sides and having the wherewithal to go through that. It’s definitely a grueling thing
to do, especially at this level. You have to prepare for the best on both sides. So, it’s just his
mindset and mentality to go out there and do it on both sides. I’m excited to see what he
does this year.”
LINEBACKER FOYESADE OLUOKUN
IN-GAME SIDELINE INTERVIEW
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025
(On watching the younger players in the first half) “It’s definitely cool seeing their
excitement for the game, watching them grow all the way through preseason. Just seeing
them play with their hair on fire. Everybody’s playing physically and getting to the ball, so
it’s definitely fun to see.”
(On his work this offseason to continue progressing as a player) “Just making sure I got my
body right coming into this training camp, being able to definitely sustain more drives and
run a lot, get quicker my bursts and everything. Then just really learn this new system that
Camp’s [Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile] implemented. I think it’s been cool
organizing all the boys and making sure I’m bringing that same hunting mentality. I want to
get my hands on the ball more this year, make more plays for the defense but kind of just
get back to that mindset of growing as a player, that hunting mindset. I think that’s going to
be very good for us.”
(On what feels different about the defense this year) “Really that hunting mentality. I think
Camp kind of brings the physicality, every day, being more dominant, more physically
dominant than other guys. I think the communication on top of that is what we have to grow
as players. He obviously has a scheme that we have to implement, so it’s on us to play out
the play. So, I think growing as a whole unit, being able to anticipate what to call with these
new calls. I think after that, you want see our physicality really come to light here.”
(On what he’s seen from the defensive line) “It’s cool. I like what they’ve been doing. They
play very fast. I like that. It’s all about knockback and I think it’s pretty simple for them and I
get to play off for them. So, if they dominate, I get to eat off of what they get to do up there.”
HEAD COACH LIAM COEN
IN-GAME SIDELINE INTERVIEW
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025
(On the defense in the first half) “Played their tails off, man. They were physical, getting the
ball out of his hands, affecting the quarterback. I thought the defense did a really nice job,
especially against their first offense.”
(On where the team is at as training camp is ending) “We’re getting closer and closer. You’re
figuring out who your 53 is, and then now, hey, decisions to end up getting to your 48.
Things are going to shake up a little bit, but I’ve been proud of the work thus far, and we still
got a little bit of room to grow still.”
GENERAL MANAGER JAMES GLADSTONE
IN-GAME BOOTH INTERVIEW
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025
(On the start by the defense) “Oh, yeah, that was an electric start from the defense.
Obviously, getting a couple three-and-outs and really forcing their offense to push the
envelope there going for it on fourth-and-six.”
(On Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile’s coaching philosophy) “Yeah, I think that
that first quarter was a reflection of him and really his philosophical approach, their
embrace as players of that. Obviously, a lot of new faces getting some ops here in this
preseason game three. Obviously, [DT] Maason Smith stepping on field for the first time in a
long time in a game setting, [LB] Dennis Gardeck in the same breath and a lot of undrafted
college free agents really giving a good go.”
(On what he is looking for in this game from a front office standpoint) “I think there’s a lot of
layers to it. Obviously at this point through two and a quarter preseason games, you have a
lot of the decisions that are really coming into focus and a few that are still on the horizon.
You got guys that are on the grass tonight who are competing for spots, not only on our
active 53 but also then the game day 48 and even beyond that, our practice squad. Our pro
scouting staff has done an awesome job covering the landscape with the NFL as a whole
and providing a few options that might exist externally as well.”
(On the running back position) “That’s right. I think competition, adversity, they’re partners
in growth and right now that’s what we’re hunting up. We’re hunting up growth and those
two in combination really help stimulate that. We’ve seen a little adversity tonight in our
offense, having some negative plays. We’re seeing one right now. A lot of what I look for in
preseason isn’t just performance, it’s response. And so when our offense was able to
experience that right off the bat and respond with a first down conversion, that’s a good
sign. That’s a really good sign for a lot of things that are being built up in that locker room
across that sideline, and it’s a really exciting piece.”
(On the decision to play younger players for the majority game) “That’s right because
there’s plenty of them out there who played a quarter of the fourth quarter in the last two
preseason games, and now they’re going the distance tonight. You have Seth [QB Seth
Henigan] who’s in at QB, and that’s who I’m speaking of. You’ve seen some close drives at
the end of games that got us in the sort of could it be we’re going to walk away with a win
and now he gets a chance to actually play for two, three, four quarters of series and so
that’ll be an exciting piece for him to try to string together drives rather than just try to win
the game on his first time entering.”
(On facing the Dolphins starting lineup) “It’s an exciting piece because there hasn’t been
some wildly different level of competition. There’s been obviously some negative plays that
have come from our own game more than anything that they’ve done to date on the other
side of the ball. So I think if we clean that stuff up, it’ll only get a little bit cleaner here
throughout the game and hopefully that’ll result in some positive plays for us. Trammell’s
[WR Austin Trammell] had a good night. He’s catching the ball, he’s running the rock.”
(On WR Austin Trammell) “He’s a great guy to have in the room. Veteran presence, certainly
goes about his business the right way and when he gets on the grass, he’s not afraid to
make plays.”
(On the offensive line tonight) “What probably goes unnoticed in a lot of what’s out here on
the grass tonight, you got five offensive linemen out there, three of which were recent
signings in August, training camp. For them to be out on the grass right now and stringing
together good protection, good running lanes. That’s not an easy thing to do. Obviously, we
saw a snap overhead that’s Carvin’s [OL Jerome Carvin] first snap in a game this preseason
and that’s not an easy thing to go out here under the bright lights and convert but to see him
bounce back and now putting together a nice drive is a good sign.”
(On the offensive line having to play together) “They’re learning in real time and certainly
building that chemistry in real time but, hey, there’s a lot of prep work that comes into this.
Got to give our coaching staff and those players that are actually executing a lot of credit to
make this look like some version of a competent collective unit. So, that’s a positive
outcome here so far.”
(On the offense responding) “That’s exactly right and we’re seeing a balanced attack here
on this drive. Run, pass, it’s mixed up and I’m happy to see a lot of different guys getting
their hands on the ball. A lot of new guys that we haven’t seen get a chance to catch many
passes in a game setting. So, this is high quality stuff from an evaluation perspective.”
(On game-setting football and his evaluation of players) “I think one of the things that, we
attempt to emphasize is, having some evaluations rooted in really the authentic football
exposures. So, obviously there’s a ton of skill development that is geared in practice and
that includes the indie sessions, the group sessions, the one-on-ones, all those sorts of
things that aren’t authentic football environment. Those are skill development windows.
You can take away some things from that for sure, but this is the root of really where we
take our bigger picture thoughts, and extract those thoughts away and apply them in our
decision making because this is this is the truest form of the game and truest
representation of who these players are individually and as a collective group.”
(On the importance of in-game performance) “Like I said before, performance is the first
thing we’re looking at here but at the same time, the bounce back to adverse situations, the
response is certainly a part of it as well because we want to make sure we’re a resilient
football team. There’s going be some adversity along the way, and we have to be able to
maintain our composure through that.”
(On K Cam Little) “I’ve been joking with the crew I sit with every time we go to the 50-yard
line, I’m like, ‘well, we’re in field goal range.’”
DEFENSIVE TACKLE KHALEN SAUNDERS SR.
IN-GAME SIDELINE INTERVIEW
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 2025
(On where the nickname Bink came from) “The Bink came from when you dribbling that ball
on the court, you hit a little crossover, and Bink-Bink that’s like the sound of the ball hitting
the court. That’s where that came from. My first love was basketball. I just start growing this
way instead of this way, so I ended up on the on the turf but I love it, man.”
(On people underestimating his athletic ability) “Absolutely, that’s why I say wait until you
get on the court before you make any judgments because they won’t believe it until they
see it. So, I just let the play do the talking.”
(On what he can bring to the Jaguars) “I feel like we have a tremendous roster already.
Obviously, the one thing that I kind of excel in is playing the run game a little more. So,
that’s obviously a reason why they wanted to bring me in, just to be able to help that run
game a little bit. Help D-Ham [DT DaVon Hamilton] a little bit, give him some rest time. I’m
just coming to bring that and then also bringing some cohesion and leadership to the
locker room and just being a guy that I’ve always been in the locker room.”
(On how his personality helps bring energy into the defense) “Absolutely, man. It’s almost
50% of being an athlete, man. That’s how you come to work. At this level, everybody is
talented. Everybody is exceptional and fast and strong and stuff like that. So, the mind ends
up being the next thing that you can bring and work on as far as your game. So, I just try and
come and bring energy every day, put smiles on guys’ faces because when you’re happy,
you’re playing better. So, I just want to be that guy in the locker room that brings us
together. I think I already kind of won the title of team DJ already after one day here, so I
think the guys are taking me in well.”
(On what he learned from winning two Super Bowls) “Well, as I said in the media earlier this
week, is it takes everybody. That’s one thing that I’ll continue to echo. That’s one thing I will
continue to preach is that it takes every single roster spot one through 53. There’s no oh,
this guy is more important than me, so I don’t need to try or anything like that. When you’re
playing on a real championship level, everybody that’s going to play is going to contribute to
that win at the end of the day. So, it’s all about getting that win and preparing for the next
week and getting another win. So, a lot of stuff can go unnoticed and stuff like that, but I try
and just make sure everybody feels needed and everybody feels wanted. That’s one of the
biggest things about winning a championship that I’ve noticed is that every single person
got used in those games and along that journey.”
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Jacksonville Head Coach Liam Coen
Q. Overall thoughts?
LIAM COEN: Yeah, like I just told them, I’m very proud to be their coach in terms of the way that these
guys continue to compete, the effort, the physicality. I thought they played, specifically on the
defensive side of the ball, very well. Got your fourth-and-16 that we gave up, which is a little
disappointing in a situation where you end up giving up points. But against their first offense, I thought
our guys that were in the game competed really well. Made it hard on them early on. Really made it
hard on them to kind of move it all night.
Q. A lot of young lineman that haven’t played together. Looks like they held up.
LIAM COEN: Yeah, we were a little nervous of that because we had some chips and weren’t really
trying to pushing the ball down the field. Probably needed some explosives in order win that game.
But for some guys that just kind of came off the street to come into our building and give us great
effort, it’s hard to get those guys all on the same page in a short period of time. I appreciate the work
they came in and did for us.
Q. Three preseason games in the books. Overall, how do you feel?
LIAM COEN: Yeah, we still got to continue to get better, there is no doubt. We cannot waste a single
moment, second, minute, practice, walk-through, meeting – cannot be wasted. We need to improve
from now until Carolina, there needs to be continued improvement. But I am proud of this team and
the way they compete. The physicality in which they play with, I think we can – if we can start there
and have that as a standard, that continues to show up every time we compete, I’ll live with that. We
got to obviously execute better in certain situational moments, and have some guys make some plays
in some moments, but I am pleased with where we are from that standpoint.
Q. Your first roster cut down time coming up as a head coach. I’m sure it’ll be tough.
LIAM COEN: Yeah, especially as your first. So many of these guys, like I told them last night, have
been a part of creating our edge and who we are as a team. So those decisions aren’t easy at all,
especially as a young coach doing it for the first time really. Those conversations aren’t easy. The
decisions aren’t easy. But I believe some guys probably helped themselves out tonight in some ways,
whether it’s for our team or somebody else’s team and ultimately you want it help guys continue to
further their dreams as well as make our roster as competitive as it can be.
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Jacksonville Jaguars QB Seth Henigan
Q. A chance to play three quarters, really your first chance in the NFL, what was it like?
SETH HENIGAN: A lot to learn from. There was a couple just operation issues on my end that I need
to clean up, for sure. There was a couple situations where they were in base to 11, so we had to change
the play late in the shot clock and I had a counter motion by a tight end and I should have just let it
ride and got him set that way we could execute the play. Ran out of bounds one time when I could
have thrown it away. Just kicking ourselves in the foot a little bit too much offensively. Would’ve liked
to get in the end zone with our group of guys; that didn’t happen, so that’s why we ultimately lost the
game, so just lack of execution really.
Q. How valuable were those, whatever it was, 50 live reps to get?
SETH HENIGAN: It was amazing. It was a privilege to represent the Jacksonville Jaguars and just an
honor to be in the NFL and have the opportunity to play, whether that’s a preseason game or in
practice, whatever it may be. Just being able to represent the Jaguars and represent the name on the
back of my jersey as well. So man, it’s just a blessing. All glory to God. Obviously would’ve like to play
a little bit better, but I was just so happy to be out there.
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars QB John Wolford
(How did this whole month or so feel for you?) – “I felt good. I felt like I did everything that I could.
I prepped really hard, thought I played well in practice, in scrimmages and in the games. You just try
to put your heart and soul into it and we’ll see where the chips fall in the end.”
(Do you feel like this group as whole, specifically on the offensive side, has come a long way since
even the spring, maybe July 23 when this started?) – “Oh yeah, absolutely. You’re installing a new
playbook, it’s foreign to a lot of guys. Just the ability to get up, get aligned, know your assignment,
and play fast, so you’re not thinking about what you have to do, I’m thinking about how I win this rep.
I think we’ve taken a ton of strides and the whole group I think should be proud of themselves for what
we have done but we obviously have more to do.”
(You had a scramble in there early on that kind of looked like a John Wolford kind of play. How
much fun are you still having, just being able to do this and run around and play your game?) –
“Yeah, I mean it’s real. Every day you wake up, you’re playing a sport for a job, right? So you don’t
take that for granted, and I don’t take that for granted. I’m just happy to continue to keep trying to
fight to play.”
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars DT Maason Smith
(How’d it feel to be out there?) – “It felt great to get on the field with the guys, man. Like I said kind
of before the game, just working through a couple of the hiccups that I’ve been having, coming back.
But it felt good, it felt great to get out there with the guys. I felt like collectively as a unit going against
their ones, I think we held our own.”
(That part of it, what did that mean to you guys to go out there and do what you did in those few
series?) – “Just kind of what Coach ‘Camp’ (Defensive Coordinator Anthony Campanile) preaches on
week-in and week-out, stopping the run, creating takeaways, which we didn’t catch any takeaways
today, but just playing fast and playing physical. I think that was on display tonight throughout the
whole defense, so I felt like we accomplished exactly what we needed to.”
(Is it like riding a bike for you getting back in there? I mean, did you feel rust? What did you
sense?) – “Definitely rust, a little bit of being sluggish for sure, that just comes with it, getting back in
the football shape. They say you can’t really do – I mean, you could run as much as you want, you
could condition as much as you want, but getting back on the field is a different level. The only way
to truly get in shape is to play more football, so in these upcoming two weeks, be able to play some
football and get back in that prime shape.”
-DOLPHINS-
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars LB Jack Kiser
(How’d it feel running around out there for the extended amount of time you got to do it and get
in the stat column as well?) – “It’s fun to always get out there on the field. This is a great stadium,
great venue. I’ve played here before, so it’s good to get back. And then to get out there against the
ones was big time, just feel the game. Seeing a high-level offense like they have and be able to
compete against them was a lot of fun and something that you’ve got to be prideful about. You get
to go out there against the ones, it’s a big deal.”
(The sack, it looked like a well-designed play. Did it kind of come to light the way that you hoped
it would?) – “Yeah, it really came wide open. I was able to get in there, it was a great play call and we
executed it really well. It was kind of nice, we had that last week, pretty much the same look and
missed that sack, so it was good to get that one back.”
(You said early on, you’ve been here at Hard Rock Stadium before. So what kind of memories came
back when you walked out there?) – “Yeah, you know it was it was funny just walking back out there
and kind of remembering some of those plays that we had against Penn State. Obviously, the long
field goal, being like, ‘All right, which end was that on?’ It was pretty cool just to see that, but at the
same time, being in a stadium like this in a big game, that helps ease those nerves of coming out here
and playing tonight a little bit. So very fortunate with having that collegiate career and how it ended
to play on those big stages to where it’s not really that nerve-wracking the first time, so it was definitely
a huge help.”
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Jacksonville Jaguars DL B.J. Green II
(What was that like to play the amount of reps that you got out of there and get comfortable in
the game?) – “It’s like when you have this opportunity, the adrenaline just kicks in. It’s hard, but you
know when you’re out there living your dream, like you’ve been playing this game for as long as you
can remember, so when you’re out there you’re going to give it all. So I emptied the tank, I know all
the guys out there with me emptied the tank. (inaudible) You know we had some good things but it’s
definitely not where we want to be.”
(The ability to do what you did in the first few series against their ones, how much of a confidence
boost is that individually but also for this whole unit?) – “Like, our DC, Coach Camp (Anthony
Campanile), it doesn’t matter who’s out there in front of us, we’re going to go out there and do what
we do and let’s play physical, get to the quarterback when we need to. He allows us, gives us the
ability to go out there and rush the quarterback, and that’s what we went out there and did. We went
out there and everybody got a sack today. So it’s not just me, but I’m blessed that I was able to have
that opportunity and seize that moment when I could.”
(Is that a little bit of a sign of this defense? You said that everybody had a sack. I think you had
like 14.0 sacks in the preseason in the three games. Is that a sign of what this defense could look
like in the regular season?) – “Yeah, when I was coming here, I didn’t know much about Jacksonville
but I did my research. ‘Sacksonville’ has been a thing. Seeing everybody get sacks, you want to get
back to that. We have a lot of vets out there who aspire and have big things they’re chasing. So you
have no choice but to step up and rise up to where they’re going.”
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Miami Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel
Q. What went wrong the first two drives that went correctly the third drive?
MIKE MCDANIEL: We had some self-inflicted stuff. I think the players in particular were kind of – I
hadn’t really planned for the exact presentation of what the defense was doing. Both putting yourself
behind the 8-ball and we were loose in a route or two, so you end up not converting and having to
give the ball back. That happens in some of your best games or it can make the game go one way.
You need people to start executing and make some plays together and I thought the group did. I was
pumped about the resolve but we’ll get back to the tape. There’s some stuff to get out of it but overall,
the main thing is you want to see guys find a rhythm and finish a drive in the end zone, and they did
that. I was happy with that piece, for sure.
Q. Is there an update with RB Jaylen Wright? And has RB Ollie Gordon II done enough to secure
that No. 2 job?
MIKE McDANIEL: Well, Jaylen we’re kind of evaluating a couple of options procedurally. It appears to
be in the week-to-week category. I think Ollie did a very good job today of mastering the non on ball
assignments. I thought he did a better job with that. I thought he competed. For the most part, I think
his tracks were good and his assignments were 100%. So it was a good day for a rookie back in terms
of getting his feet wet. It didn’t look too big for him, but we’ll keep pressing forward with the group. I
look forward to those guys’ continued improvement.
Q. Anything you can tell us about K Jason Sanders?
MIKE McDANIEL: It was something that he doesn’t appear concerned for Week 1. He was telling me
that he was going to kick extra points and I was like we need the 2-point conversion work. We’ll see
when he comes in but he wasn’t overly concerned for Week 1.
Q. What about LB Jordyn Brooks? We saw him dress but he didn’t get any snaps.
MIKE McDANIEL: He was mad at me. All the guys that were kind of working through anything minor
from an injury standpoint – he had something minor that I didn’t think was worth him playing. If it was
a regular season game, there’s no way he would have allowed me to pull that off. But I was proud of
him to see the big picture and he’s an important part of the team so we had to take care of him and
give some guys some much-needed (opportunities).
Q. Now that the preseason is over, how ready do you feel that LB Bradley Chubb and LB Jaelan
Phillips are as they come back from their injuries?
MIKE McDANIEL: I think that the week-and-a-half or two weeks of work will be good for everybody.
But for where they’re at and what I was looking to accomplish with them, I am very pleased. I think
they are ready to go. That was kind of the point for doing this a couple of times and having guys play
is the whole game process, you don’t want to feel out of sorts or uncomfortable. Every year, it is time
off that you need to take your practice development to the game and you need reps at that game
process. I was very happy that they got that in and that we were able to stay relatively healthy and
gain that experience that was very, very intentional and deliberate by those guys. I’m happy with where
their game is at and I look forward to watching them rush the passer.”
Q. How significant is it that you get late game interceptions against Detroit and tonight from CB
Ethan Robinson and S John Saunders Jr.?
MIKE McDANIEL: Very significant. I think the turnover ratio was 1-0 in a one score game this week and
I thought we did a good job. I think we saw – if it’s not equal to, it’s probably the most blitzes we’ve
seen in a preseason game, particularly preseason three, and for us not to turn the ball over and having
minimal procedural penalties – which typically with 2s and 3s, I don’t motion as much as I was
motioning in this game. That was intentional. I was trying to make it difficult and see how guys could
handle varsity-type pre-snap stuff. So I was very happy with that. It’s very important. I think you can
see that we haven’t missed a day talking about finishing. Whether it’s each meeting or each practice,
it’s a very important part of things we’ve been doing. And that in conjunction with I think guys have
really taken the opportunity to be leaders on the team. And really that leadership, you see the team
is not only invested in each other, but they’re very focused down the stretch. Having some young guys
make some plays is gigantic. I think it speaks to both those young guys, but as the collective as well
because guys are not missing an opportunity to try to finish something. Because that’s basically what
our jobs come down to, is how we finish the game and try to get a victory. So I like the competitive
spirit and the attention to detail and the leaders staying involved even when they’re not playing and
making their presence felt, which I think was on display tonight.
Q. What do you like about WR Malik Washington?
MIKE MCDANIEL: His personality and his play. He’s a competitor that really is super fearless and the
moment is not too big for him. As a rookie in the middle of the season last year, in a game that, I think
we were 2-6 at the time, on national television, and he made the big corner-route completion and I
think that everybody saw that, on top of how he started the game with the touchdown, that he was a
gamer. So his competitive greatness, as kind of defined by John Wooden as being your best when
your best is required, and that’s Malik Washington to a T.
Q. What stood out to you about RB Ollie Gordon II’s preparation this week and gave you the
confidence to give him that starting role this evening?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I think you can tell that he’s doing a very intentional job at bridging the gap from
the college position of running back to NFL running back. There’s a lot more responsibilities, both
protection and routes, specifically with what we like to do here. And it takes an adjustment that you
can tell if it’s too big for a guy or not, and it’s definitely not too big for him. However, the biggest thing
with rookies – and you hear it every year about rookie walls at some point in time – it’s a journey that
has to be relentless. So that’s the next stage for him in terms of the next couple of weeks before we
play a game. You can’t take your foot off the gas, or you’re quickly humbled. So it will be important
for him to continue his diligence and get comfortable with being uncomfortable with his studies and
his assignments, because he has to keep pressing forward to continue to have the growth in his game
that he’s having.
Q. Having TE Darren Waller go through warmups but not play, was that just to go through a
pregame routine than even though he’s not had significant practice work?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Yeah, that was very intentional – him and there’s a couple of other guys that I had
go through warmups, but I planned on not playing. He had no setbacks. He had a good pregame
workout. He looked good and I’m excited to see him next week.
Q. I believe I saw CB Jason Marshall Jr. take some nickel corner reps. How do you think he fared
and where is he on the depth chart at that position considering CB Mike Hilton?
MIKE MCDANIEL: I’ll have to see the tape for the nuanced things for each play and how he graded
out. But it definitely didn’t look too big for him. It’s impressive because it’s a more challenging position
that you get really exposed if you’re off your leverage or out of your run fits. You’re essentially a
DB/linebacker when you’re playing that position. And that was something that I think probably having
Mike (Hilton) here has helped him in that process. I have been very impressed with how he’s kind of
looked comfortable, and he’s kind of showed off some of his physicality in that position. I’m excited
to look at the tape. And, yeah, he’s been progressing nicely in a way we needed him to.
Q. You talked about RB De’Von Achane’s ownership of the playbook. How is he coming along?
And also has he helped RB Ollie Gordon II since he’s been out here a little bit?
MIKE MCDANIEL: De’Von, there’s been no setbacks with him. I look forward to getting him out there
in a helmet and shoulder pads again. He’s been instrumental because he’s not too far removed from
being in the shoes of a rookie and learning the offense. But he’s super prideful with his ownership,
and over the last couple of years we’ve moved him around everywhere. He understands, I think, the
offense very clearly. So that’s always beneficial, especially when he’s looking to help. He’s kind of
expanded it in his own leadership role, which has been really cool to watch him mature in that way
and take ownership and pride in leading that room.
Q. What do the next 72 hours like for you? Do you all keep essentially a running list of your initial
53-man roster and is the evaluation process ongoing over the next couple of days? How does that
work?
MIKE MCDANIEL: You try to keep a clear mind. Even though you have your certain inferences, you try
to keep a clear mind when you watch the tape to let the tape tell the story. And then what I do know
is this team and the collection of 90 (players) have made our jobs very difficult. So the way that looks
is you go in tomorrow morning, you watch the tape with the coaches. And I’ll get together with all of
them and then get together with the coordinators and with Chris (Grier) and we’ll start chopping away
at some of these difficult decisions. But it’s not easy by any stretch. I really keep myself from making
any rush to judgment and allow guys to really play it out and try to settle things on the field. So that
involves both game tape and practice tape – a lot of tape of their resumé, essentially – and then fitting
that puzzle piece together, which is your 53 plus 16. We’re hours away from that.
Q. Can you we get an update on OL Liam Eichenberg? Is it possible that he might begin the
season remaining on the PUP, or is he going to be healthy enough to be on the 53?
MIKE MCDANIEL: Those things we’re kind of ironing out in the next 48 hours. I don’t foresee him
being an immediate return. I don’t foresee it being season-long. But these are all the things that we
have to take very due diligence when you’re talking about the amount of players that you can list in
one way, shape or form or the other, and when their availability will be, or when their availability will
allow for their return. So that’s an exact topic that will be substantially addressed in the next coming
few hours.
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa
Q. How did you feel things went tonight?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I think things went pretty well. I know the results of what the first two series looked
like, but it’s a learning curve, it’s a learning process. You’ve got to get our guys all the guys that are
available, you’ve got to get them out there, got to get our guys playing. I think our defense did really
well. Our first two groups that went out there while we were still trying to get something going
offensively. But I think for the most part, it went well. We got to see how guys kind of came back from
adversity, when you’re talking about our receivers, our tight ends, blocking assignments and then
you’re also looking at the o-line and then for me as well. So we had a lot of opportunities tonight to
learn from some of those things, and we got to see how guys reacted and came back from adversity.
Q. Describe what kind of weapon WR Malik Washington can be this season for you?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: You guys have seen the touchdown he had, but I think what gets overlooked with
Malik is also the blocking aspect of his game. I think that’s where he’s most improved from last year to
this year. Don’t get me wrong – last year was really good with the things that he had done in the run
game, but I think this year he’s improved a lot more. But now that he’s getting more touches, it just
allows him to be that much more versatile for us.
Q. Is there anything to experiencing a hit, just take that out of the system?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It felt good to get hit again. Maybe that’s not what people want to hear, but as
we’re getting ready and getting started to get back into the normal routine of what a season would
feel like, it feels good to get out there, get sacked a little bit. Sure, was that the result we wanted? No,
but it feels weird that I’m going to say it, but in my head, it’s like it feels all right to have gotten
touched.
Q. With the preseason games over and roster days on Tuesday, feel like you’re turning the page
into a more focused season approach come next week?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: Yeah, and I think this game was really important for a lot of guys trying to make
the team. But like I said, it was very important for us to see as a team collectively – offense, defense.
The guys that are being out there, can we trust them? Can we not trust them? Are they doing the right
things out there? Are they not? And we’ll see what those decisions and how everything shakes out
come to the 53-man roster.
Q. So you’re very big on chemistry with players. How much have you been able to work with
Darren Waller, and what’s that process like trying to develop some chemistry with him?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I haven’t had a ton of reps with (Darren) Waller just because he’s working his way
back into the feeling of running his routes and then the feeling of his pads as well, so hopefully this
next upcoming week we can work on a lot of those things prior to the Week 1 lead-up to play the
Colts.
Q. What’s the next week and a half, two weeks like from the end of preseason and training camp
until that first regular season game?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: A lot of the guys — for me, a lot of the guys that would normally be out there, I
didn’t have them throughout midway to the ending of this training camp. So that would be a great
opportunity for me to get some work with those guys – ‘Reek’ (Tyreek Hill), (Jaylen) Waddle, (Darren)
Waller, all those guys. We’ll get some work in. We’ll try to find some time to get those in before the
lead-up to week one.
Q. What do you think of the Dolphins pass rush group?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: It was sweet. What else can you say? As a quarterback, with having those guys, I
mean, I guess you can say it’s fun that they’re not across from me and they’re on our side of the ball.
But I think it was cool that the celebration with Chop, how Chop tried to hit it and then he stopped
and all of those guys behind him were in sync. I think that was super cool. That tells you chemistry that
those guys have in that room with each other and how close they are and how they play.
Q. What stood out to you this week about Ollie Gordon’s preparation? I know he was lifted into
the starting role this week but what stood out to you about his preparation?
TUA TAGOVAILOA: I’m really proud of Ollie. There’s been a pretty big ask for him to step up into that
role going with the ones. And then outside of that, it’s not to say he didn’t have some mistakes, but
for what he was asked of to do as a rookie, I was very proud of him.
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Miami Dolphins LB Bradley Chubb
(On splitting a sack with LB Jaelan Phillips and being back on the field together) – “It’s good to
be back. We always joked about ‘2-15.’ Before the game we were standing back like we never left
and being back in front of the home crowd, both of us for the first time, it was fun to do that and fun
to split that.”
(What was it like to get that sack after everything you’ve gone through?) – “It’s been great. It was
dope for sure. Just being able to split it with my boy, too. At the end of the day, we were both
fighting to get back last year and all the things that we had to go through and all the trials and
tribulations, but it makes it worth it at the end of the day when you can make a play.”
(With the first-team defense out there, you guys didn’t allow a third down conversion in the first
quarter. Just what was working for you guys?) – “Just being on one accord, using the techniques
and fundamentals that our coaches give us that we talk about each and every day, trying to master it
throughout this preseason. It’s not a finished product, so when we get to Week 1 we want it to be a
finished product so working together and everybody gelling together.”
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins QB Quinn Ewers
(With WR Theo Wease, I feel like from the beginning of training camp that connection has been
so fruitful.) – “Yeah, I mean he’s a fellow DFW guy, we’re both from the same area. I think we just kind
of had the connection from the jump, from rookie minicamp then on to where we are now. I think he’s
done a phenomenal job of getting open at the end of the day, because at quarterback, we just throw
to the open guy and he seems to be open a lot.”
What are you going to take from your first training camp?) – “A lot. I think that I got to see kind of
what it takes to be an NFL guy, obviously watching Tua (Tagovailoa) play and then getting some stuff
from Zach (Wilson) as well. Man, just what an opportunity that I’ve been given. I feel like I didn’t take
advantage of anything – I haven’t regretted anything I’ve done, so I’m just pumped. It was fun for me
because it’s been a lifelong dream for me to be in the shoes that I’m in right now, but man, I feel like
I have a long way to go.”
(What area do you feel like you grew the most?) – “I feel like I grew the most with the footwork.
Because in the spring I was, I wouldn’t say struggling, but learning and going through that learning
process. Here in Miami, it’s all about timing, which matches footwork from us and footwork for the
receivers, but I feel like I did a good job of honing in that. I don’t get a whole lot of reps during the
week, so just doing stuff after practice with some guys and even in the run game. I feel like I just did
a really good job of doing what the coaches were telling me to do.”
-DOLPHINS-
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins RB Ollie Gordon II
(How well of a case do you feel like you made today to show your value to this team?) – “I just feel
like we all showed that today, just us being able to stick together, be a group that plays together. We
have been practicing together for a minute now, a couple of months now, and I just feel like this was
the time where it all got to show. Getting in there and playing with them, I felt like it was huge, it was
fun and that was the whole point about it.”
(What do you feel like you were able to show today?) – “Just to show how versatile I am. Coming
out of college, it was a wonder like, could I pass pro? I feel like I put that on display today and that
was huge, not just for me but for the team in general, letting my coaches and the other vets know that
I can protect our quarterback.”
(What’s the outlook of this run game coming into the regular season? How important is it?) “I feel
like it’s huge. Once we can get the ball on the ground and just keep it moving, four or five yards each
pop, that’s great. At the end of the day, take three five-yard runs, first down, so I’m here for it.”
-DOLPHINS-
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Miami Dolphins LB Jaelan Phillips
(What did it mean to you to get to the quarterback?) – “It was great. Honestly, just to be able to get
those season jitters kind of out. Obviously preseason doesn’t count, but it’s still getting into the process
of game day, getting ready for the game, the emotions that go through it. To be able to go out there
in a short amount of time and get that little half-sack is a really great feeling, because we’re not looking
for the results necessarily but obviously it feels good to do that. More importantly, I just felt really good
out there. I felt strong and it was really fun to play with my guys again.”
(What can you tell us about what you were going through the last couple of weeks, being kept off
the practice field, to now working into some action here?) – “I was just dealing with a little oblique
strain, that’s a temporary thing. Clearly I am fine now to be able to play, so that was just one of those
things that coming back from major injuries, you kind of have to callous your body. That’s kind of what
this camp process has been about for me is just getting my body used to the rigors and the strain of
NFL football. Now about a month into camp, I feel really good and really strong. That’s all that was
but I feel really good coming into Week 1.”
(What is it that has all of these veterans going out there to celebrate with like LB Derrick
McLendon’s sack, you were really hyped up for that. Everyone was coming off for S John Saunders
Jr.’s play at the end. What is it about you guys that you have this kind of love for those undrafted
guys?) – “I don’t know what it is necessarily about this year, but I just feel like our team is just so close.
I think obviously that long away trip that we had kind of brought some guys together as well. But really
from the jump, in our room obviously we’ve had kind of that same group of guys for about two years
now, so just kind of building that relationship and then we just all truly love each other and truly want
to see each other succeed and thrive. To be able to see everything that those guys put in ‘DMac’
(Derrick McLendon), his energy is contagious. You can ask anybody in the building about ‘DMac,’
they’ll say the same thing. To see all the preparation that goes into it, to see that kind to fruition in
that game is just special. I think that how much we celebrate each other and how hype we get for our
guys really kind of just shows that character of the team that we have.”
(What are those first moments like when you come back to the field after a long injury recovery
process?) – “It’s just like riding a bike. Obviously it feels good, but maybe I’ll be a little more emotional
or feel a different way about the actual season, but today kind of just felt almost like a practice but just
going out there, focusing on the right things, having that mindset to just go around, fly around, do my
job, make plays. But it felt good being back at Hard Rock, obviously the fans and all that stuff but
wasn’t like this monumental like, ‘Oh my god, I’ve been gone for so long.’ Obviously it has been awhile
since I’ve stepped on the field and I’m very grateful for that, but I’m just so locked in to the preparation
and what’s going on now that I don’t really sit around and kind of contemplate about that. But it feels
great though.”
(Have you and the other pass rushers spoken as a group or even just one on one at lunch or
something about the role and the responsibility that you guys have as a group for the team’s
success?) – “Yeah, we always say that we have to be the engine. Just in terms of being that driving
factor, obviously the edge rushing position is a premium position in the league and so it’s true that if
we can come out, have early production, be consistent and have production that we can really change
games. So it’s not just us obviously but we kind of take it upon ourselves as our outside linebacker
group, the big dawgs, we have to be the engine and kind of set the tone. That’s really all we talk about
to be honest. Just that mindset that we have and to be able to be there to lift each other up. We have
a lot of leaders on this defense and each one is equally responsible, but at the end of the day, like I
said, we kind of take it upon ourselves to be that engine and set the tone.”
(Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver seemed like he was using you guys in waves, not just the
edge rushers but the defensive linemen. How different is that compared to what you’ve seen in
past years here?) – “Obviously it’s preseason so it’s a little different than what it might typically be,
but I think it just shows the depth that we have at each position. Whether its inside linebackers,
different groups, nickel defenses, dime defense, things like that. We just have a lot of guys that can
play and a lot of guys that can play at a really high level. I think at the end of the day it’s probably a
blessing, if you look at the edge group, to have four of us who can start on a team and play and
produce at the level that we can it just really kind of disperses it. Each one of us has different skill sets
so kind of switching it up, making the offense kind of guess. It’s kind of a blessing to be able to have
that depth to have the skill that we have at all the positions that we do.”
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Miami Dolphins S John Saunders Jr.
(What was the process and how do you feel right now?) – “I feel great man. I’ve just been trying to
be patient, wait for my opportunity to come. They always tell us just control what we can control, so I
can’t control when I’m out there, but, when I am, I’m just trying to make plays when they come to me.”
(What did you see out there?) – “We were in man coverage and I just made sure to cover my man
and then get my eyes to the quarterback. I’d seen the ball coming and then see ball, get ball. Got to
take it out of the air.”
(You made a few similar plays throughout preseason. How does it feel to finally have it show up in
the game?) – “It’s amazing, for real, just because it’s a lot that goes into this – a lot of hard work and
dedication so just waiting on the opportunity to come, and now that it’s here, I’m just so excited that
I was able to take advantage of it.”
(Did you know the whole team was following you?) – “I did not know that, but I really appreciate the
guys, for real, man. That was amazing. That shows our brotherhood that we’re building here and how
everybody supports everybody so that was amazing watching everybody come over there with me.
They smacked me in the helmet, like a hundred times, but it was cool, though, it was cool. (laughter)”
– DOLPHINS –
MIAMI DOLPHINS QUOTES
Saturday, August 23, 2025
Postgame – Jacksonville
Miami Dolphins WR Malik Washington
(Take us through that move that you put on the Jaguars defender to drift by him and get into the
end zone?) – “First and foremost I just want to give praise to God for allowing us to come out here
healthy and play the game that we love. But that’s a move you dream up, late night you’re just thinking
visualizing the play and stuff like that and it just came to life. That’s not one that I really worked on
necessarily or something like that, but it’s just all the offseason, all the work that we’ve put in
throughout the training and stuff to help that moment come to life.”
(What’s this summer been like for you because it feels like from our perspective WR Tyreek Hill
hurt and WR Jaylen Waddle has missed some time that you and QB Tua Tagovailoa have really
been able to build a relationship over the past few weeks and build chemistry on the field?) – “I
think for all the receivers in the room, we’ve kind of come together, bonded together and just put our
best foot forward. And knowing that some guys might be out, we have to take advantage of our
opportunities and when they come, they come. You can’t let that opportunity slip by. You can’t be not
ready or not prepared for the opportunity. I think a lot of the guys in that room have been ready for
that opportunity and as far as me and Tua (Tagovailoa), it’s trying to be on the same page as him as
much as possible, trying to do the things that I know he likes, the things I know he might want me to
be here, he might want me to be there and just making sure that connection is strong so that we get
into the regular season, he can trust me.”
(What’s that process like with QB Tua Tagovailoa because he’s open about the fact that he needs
chemistry with guys? What do you do to work through that – talking the process out?) – “I think I
noticed that right away when I got here. I was getting open a couple times and he just wasn’t even
looking my way and then as we kind of went on, I was like, ‘Okay, he needs to trust. He needs to have
a relationship. He needs to know that if he puts that ball out there, you’re going to find a way to go
get it.’ And I think over the past year or so, this offseason, just trying to bond with him, just trying to
hang out with him outside of football, outside of the building. Any chance that I get – if he invites me
somewhere I’m going to show up because I know that he values that and I also value that as well so
trying to build that connection in the offseason.”
(So you don’t play a musical instrument I’m assuming?) – “I tried. I tried just because we went over
to his house one time and everybody’s playing an instrument. I beat on my thigh a little bit, but I don’t
got the musical talent. (laughter)”
(I think you converted a fourth-and-6 over the middle, right? There have been some really good
slots, right? Specific to the slot position it seems like the ball often goes there, third-and-6, fourth-
and-6. What do you try to keep in mind in those situations considering the role you play and your
position on the field?) – “I think when it’s third down, fourth down, the whole world is watching, the
whole stadium is watching, the whole team is watching. So it’s like coming up big. It’s like knowing
that’s the money down, knowing you’ve got to almost be perfect on that down because the defense
is going to throw everything at you. I think on third and fourth down it’s just a little bit of a different
mindset of the pressure is on and you have to make that play. Tahj (Washington) converted a fourth
down as well so it’s like we all kind of have that mindset to just make those plays in that big moment.”
(When did the offense begin to click for you? You struggled a little bit early in your rookie season,
then at some point it just started going off?) – “I think it’s kind of like that midway mark through the
season – coming back from the injury early in the season and getting a chance to just – I didn’t have
to have to necessarily prepare for a game but I got the opportunity to prepare for the game like a
coach would, like a quarterback would and just go through everything and just get an understanding
of where they wanted to be. Just watched film and really pour into that and then going out there and
the reps, the reps, the reps. And I think reps are the biggest thing especially at this level, is having the
opportunity to go out into an NFL game and mess up and have success and learn from the success
and learn from the mess ups so that when the lights are bright and I get this start when (Jaylen) Waddle
goes down and now it’s like I’ve got to go and I don’t have a choice in that scenario; I’ve got to make
a play so I think for me it’s kind of the midway mark through the season and really just getting those
reps.”
(You’re obviously on the roster this year. I’m trying to remember if you were definitely on the roster
at this point last year or were you worried?) – “I think it’s the same thing this year. It’s going to be
the same thing for my whole NFL career. I’m just going to have that sense of urgency, that sense of I
haven’t done anything to necessarily to make it a shoo-in or make it a given. I’m a sixth-round pick
and I always remember that. I always have that in the back of my head, but at the end of the day I’m
an NFL player and everybody on an NFL roster has to earn each and every day to be on this 53-man
roster so for me it’s just pouring into that each and every moment, each and every opportunity that I
get.”
(You said that any time QB Tua Tagovailoa invites you to something, deciding “okay, I need to be
there, I need to go.” Do you remember what the first one of those events was?) – “I want to say
he invited us on his boat and I made sure – I don’t even like boats. I don’t even like being on the water,
but I made sure to be there and just be around the guys and really have an opportunity to connect,
but like you said, any time he invites (me) to something, I’m probably going to show up.”
– DOLPHINS –
