Five Instant Overreactions from Dolphins-Giants Preseason Game

The Miami Dolphins rested their starters in their preseason outing against the New York Giants on Saturday afternoon. Here are some immediate reactions to the 26-3 drubbing that ensued.

The Miami Dolphins Need a new Backup QB

After an abysmal 4-for-19 combined showing from Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller in preseason week one, this game (with Mark Gronowski in Ewers’ stead) was much of the same. Miller and Gronowski had one nice run each, but finished the game a combined eight for 16 for 61 yards.

Aside from one drive from Malik Willis, Miami’s quarterback play has been atrocious. None of the three backups have showcased anything in camp, and in games, they’re hurting Miami’s chances of evaluating their skill positions. Inaccurate passes and early bailouts from clean pockets have littered the last two weeks worth of tape, and making a change going into week three, while unlikely, should be considered at the very least.

Miami Found a Hidden Gem

Among a sea of poor performances, one defender stood out among the rest. However, there’s still a chance he misses out on making the 53-man roster.

Jackson Woodard, a linebacker who entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2025, was all over the field Saturday. He did a strong job making open field tackles and sorting through blockers against the run. This comes after a week one performance that also flashed on tape for the same reasons.

The 24-year-old has come along nicely for Miami. However, with the immense depth that the Dolphins already have at off-ball linebacker, there’s a real chance that they’ll have to try to sneak Woodard onto the practice squad.

The Dolphins Drafted an Entire Receiving Corps in One Year

Just one week after rookie receiver Caleb Douglas made a splash play in the first quarter, another rookie did the same thing. This time, Kevin Coleman Jr., running the same route Douglas made his acrobatic catch on, grabbed a contested ball with cornerback Dru Phillips draped all over him.

Coleman recently returned from injury and has flashed when he has been on the field in camp. Adding this performance (although with limited targets) to the lack of explosives from Miami’s veterans gives Coleman a real chance to be a contributor this season. If that is the case, combined with what we’ve seen from the aforementioned Douglas and the return of third-round pick Chris Bell, this young corps could lay the foundation for the future of Miami’s passing game.

It’s Willie Gay Jr. Time

In the wake of an injury to rookie linebacker Trey Moore in the first quarter of the game Saturday night, it may be time for Willie Gay Jr. to play a key role in Jeff Hafley’s defense. Gay, who notably had a stellar 2025 camp that didn’t translate to playing time, has had an up-and-down first two games of the 2026 preseason.

On one hand, the speed is clearly there, and he fits the SAM linebacker archetype that figures to be a major part of Jeff Hafley’s defensive front. However, there have also been reps where he seems wildly out of place. His playing time will almost certainly tie in to the recovery of Moore, who he is behind on the depth chart, and if his injury is serious, he will likely be vaulted into a significant role.

Keep Churning the Bottom of the Roster

Perhaps the biggest letdown from this game is how few players on the Dolphins truly stood out. As anticipated, the vast majority of their depth looked underwhelming. However, without the majority of Miami’s starters playing, it was a prime opportunity to see some of the players who look to be on the bubble, and outside of the aforementioned Jackson Woodard, nobody made their presence felt.

It’s worth noting that there were a few nice plays from rookie offensive guard DJ Campbell and second-year defensive tackle Fatorma Mulbah, but nobody was consistent enough to truly flash. It’s probably fair to say that 53-man roster cuts, and the ensuing signings, will be a major portion of the back half of this team.

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