MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Dolphins officially opened training camp Wednesday, giving players their first chance to impress under new head coach Jeff Hafley.
With a new coaching staff and front office in place, competition is wide open as players battle for starting jobs and roster spots.
Running back De’Von Achane said it felt good to be back on the field with his teammates, calling the first day a “good start” as the team begins building chemistry in the new system.
“It was fun to get back out here with my brothers,” Achane said. “We was off a little bit but it’s exciting to get back on the field, especially just to hurry up and build that connection with each other.
One thing that stood out after practice was the effort.
Local 10’s Clay Ferraro said even after the session ended, several players stayed on the field getting extra work in, a sign of the competitive culture Hafley is trying to establish.
The rookies made a strong first impression.
Rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, a second round pick from Texas Tech, broke up two passes, including a diving pass breakup over the middle, while showing impressive range in coverage, according to Dolphins reporter Travis Wingfeld.
Wide receivers Caleb Douglas and Kevin Coleman Jr. each came away with explosive plays from Malik Willis. Douglas turned a short catch into a long gain with his speed and also hauled in a tough third-down reception despite tight coverage. Coleman picked up a big gain after hauling in a strike from quarterback Willis.
One of Willis’ best throws of the day came on a deep post pattern completed to South Florida native Tutu Atwell that connected for 50+ yards.
Wingfeld said Willis had a solid first day overall, connecting on several throws while working behind good pass protection. He had a few off-target passes and one tipped at the line, but looked comfortable for most of the practice. Tight ends Greg Dulcich and Ben Sims were both involved in the passing game.
On defense, cornerback Chris Johnson, who was drafted with the Dolphins’ second first round selection, flashed throughout practice with his athleticism and ability to make plays.
The defense also produced several takeaways, highlighted by linebacker Willie Gay Jr.’s pick-six after jumping a pass. Rookie safety Michael Taaffe added an interception that was thrown by Quinn Ewers, and linebacker David Ojabo forced a fumble during a running play.
That guy Taaffe 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/zdu19LFtfW
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) July 29, 2026
The defensive front also made its presence felt against the run. Defensive tackles Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers each recorded stops, while linebacker Jordyn Brooks consistently found the football, including a tackle for loss on Achane.
Safety Dante Trader also made a quick read to shut down a running lane on the first team play of practice.
The first practice open to the public is set for Sunday. Read the Dolphins’ full training camp schedule by clicking here.
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