ASHBURN, Va. — The Miami Dolphins finally squared off against another team ahead of the 2026 season, and it was a struggle.
The Washington Commanders won the day on both offense and defense at their training facility on Wednesday.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels mostly had his way with a decimated Dolphins secondary, down cornerbacks Chris Johnson and JuJu Brents and safety Dante Trader Jr.
The Miami offense struggled to gain first downs, got beat up front in pass protection, and quarterback Malik Willis was forced to use his legs a lot as the pocket crumbled and receivers didn’t create separation.
“Some things we definitely got to clean up, but that’s what we expect Day 1 of joint practice,” linebacker Jordyn Brooks said.
What Dolphins players were pleased with was the physicality they played with.
“I thought we brought that, physical mindset,” Brooks said, as the teams were thudding against the run instead of tackling to the ground.
Added right tackle Austin Jackson: “Definitely physical. I don’t think that aspect was lacking. Physicality was there, but we got to work on the execution.”
The joint practice setting finally offered first-year coach Jeff Hafley an opportunity to gauge his team against someone other than his own players.
“I want to take the next step,” Hafley said ahead of drills. “I just want them to be themselves and play football and be able to execute.”
The teams did 7-on-7 drills Wednesday, which the Dolphins had not practiced in the intrasquad setting. Those occurred in the red zone before the teams went to a series of 11-on-11 periods, which included a late-game scenario to wrap up the day’s work.
Along with Johnson, Trader and Brents, the Dolphins defense was missing defensive tackle Zach Sieler, who will be week to week, Hafley revealed ahead of the day’s drills. Safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. was back in the lineup.
The Dolphins and Commanders didn’t get involved in any big scuffle, something often seen in the joint setting. The closest thing to it was defensive tackle Jordan Phillips having to be separated from a Washington lineman, possibly tackle Josh Conerly Jr. Phillips called it part of playing a physical game.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio, a Miami native, was in attendance to check out his Dolphins near Washington, D.C.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, shakes hands with Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley, right, before a joint practice between the Washington Commanders and the Dolphins on Wednesday in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Here are highlights and observations from the Dolphins’ joint practice with the Commanders in Virginia on Wednesday:
— Willis thew a pick-six when CB Mike Sainristil stepped in front of a pass intended for WR Malik Washington on the near sideline. Sainristil punted the ball in celebration of his accomplishment. It seemed like Willis threw the ball where it had to be, but Washington didn’t come back to the spot.
— S Michael Taaffe had a big pass breakup in the back of the end zone as time expired in a late-game scenario. It was a busy day for Taaffe, who continues to learn on the job with Trader sidelined. He bounced back after some hiccups in coverage earlier.
— The Miami first-team offense then got a shot from the Commanders’ 25-yard line. The group got backed up by penalty after initially advancing into the red zone, and defensive end Charles Omenihu sacked Willis, which ran the final seconds off.
— WR Treylon Burks beat S Zayne Anderson and Taaffe for a 70-yd TD from Daniels. The secondary needs Trader and CBs Brents and Johnson, who are all sidelined.
— Daniels picked the Dolphins defense apart. Washington WR Terry McLaurin had a sideline reception on the side of the field defended by CB Jason Marshall Jr., Anderson and Taaffe were nearby as the play ended. Granted, McLaurin is a Pro Bowl WR. But Marshall has been inconsistent so far in training camp.
— TE Chig Okonkwo got past CB Miles Battle and S Major Burns for a nice gain up the seam.
— LB Jordyn Brooks was all around the ball with three tackles in the late two-minute drill. Brooks, the All-Pro who led the league with 183 tackles last season, is having a good training camp, a positive sign following his three-year, $48 million contract extension.
— Rookie LB Jacob Rodriguez continues to have a strong camp. He made plays in the run game.
— In Dolphins OL vs. Commanders DL 1 on 1s, Washington won. LT Patrick Paul was beaten by OLB Odafe Oweb, LG Kadyn Proctor was beaten by a swim move by DT Javon Kinlaw, C Aaron Brewer had a draw with a DT, RT Austin Jackson was beaten by OLB K’Lavon Chaisson.
— In a second round of Dolphins OL vs. Commanders DL G D.J. Campbell did well vs. DT Jeffrey M’Ba, DE Drake Jackson got around OT Caedan Wallace, OT Marques Cox did well vs. DE T.J. Maguranvanga.
— Dolphins DL Zeek Biggers lured a Washington OL into a false start early in 11 on 11. It’s a subtle way that Biggers, a pass rusher and run stopper when he plays inside, and edge-setter vs. the run when he plays outside, is impacting the game.
— Willis missed WR Jalen Tolbert on a throw near the goal line in 11 on 11. S Jeremy Reaves was the closest defender. The Willis-Tolbert connection remains a work in progress.
— RB De’Von Achane was stuffed on a run to the ‘A’ gap. Achane has had success at Dolphins training camp running the ball on the first play of 11-on-11 drills.
— OL Caedan Wallace gave up a sack to DT Jer’Zhan Newton against QB Cam Miller.
— Achane had a 2-yard loss on the first play of red zone 11 on 11.
— Willis had a six-yard gain on a run left as he continues to slowly unveil his run game.
— CBs Marshall and Marco Wilson started with the defense alongside Taaffe and LBs Tyrel Dodson and Trey Moore. Hafley continues experimenting with personnel packages. And remember, Johnson apparently wasn’t practicing for an unknown reason.
— WR Caleb Douglas drew a pass interference call after a third down pass fell incomplete. Douglas, who is speedy, lanky and athletic at 6 foot 4, 205 pounds, can be tough to defend. He frequently gets good separation.
— Willis had a well-thrown completion over the middle to Douglas. Douglas continues to put together a nice stretch of practices.
— CB Ethan Bonner had a pass break up on a long throw to WR Dyami Brown. Bonner hasn’t yet shown he deserves to be a starter but he’ll almost certainly be on the 53-man regular-season roster.
— Marshall Jr. is beaten by WR Van Jefferson on a crossing pass from Daniels. Jefferson and Marshall are both Florida Gators, by the way.
— Washington TE Lawrence Cager, who played at the University of Miami (2015-18) before finishing at Georgia, had a nice reception from backup QB Marcus Mariota.
— LB Kyle Louis had a nice stop on a run play. That’s significant because Louis’ main contribution early in his rookie season might be as a “big nickel,” or the LB who defends the slot TE. Perhaps Louis is expanding his game already.
— Willis, in 11 on 11, had a 15-yard completion to Douglas, who went down low to make the grab, then scrambled for seven yards on the next play before absorbing a sack from OLB Odafe Oweh. In a play later in the series, Willis later evaded pressure by using his feet before hitting FB D.J. Herman on a short pass.
— DL Matthew Butler continues working as an “up back,” the blocker in front of the KOR. C Andrew Meyer and DL Biggers have also auditioned for that role.
— RB Jaylen Wright and WR Jalen Reagor continue working as KOR. Washington currently holds that role.
— CB A.J. Green III had a PBU in 1 on 1s. Green, the fifth-year player who spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and Minnesota, continues to flash. But Green, who has an interception in training camp, remains a longshot for the 53-man roster.
— WRs Washington and Tolbert, projected starters, had TD receptions in 1-on-1 drills. Later, Douglas, the third projected starter, had a TD reception. That’s a good sign for the growth of the WR corps.
— Washington WR River Cracraft, the ex-Dolphin, had success vs. Miami’s nickel DBs in 1-on-1 drills. Cracraft has receiving skills but is more known for his blocking.
— Willis had his pass intended for Douglas broken up by Washington CB Fabian Moreau, who attended Western High School.
— Willis came back to hit Washington for a TD.
— Willis then hit WR AJ Henning for a TD, sparking a successful 1-on-1 drill for the Dolphins QB-WR combo over Washington’s DBs.
— WRs Theo Wease Jr. and Tolbert and TE Cole Turner all flashed strong receiving skills in 1-on-1 drills. All could be keys to the Dolphins’ depth although it should be noted Tolbert is currently listed as a starter.
— The weather was 80 degrees and cloudy with 71 percent humidity and a “feels-like” temperature of 80 degrees. Compare that to Miami Gardens, where it’s 89 degrees with 69 percent humidity and a “feels-like” temperature of 94 degrees.
Stock up: Caleb Douglas
The rookie wideout continues to shine. His play in practice at Dolphins camp translated to facing an opponent, as he had the type of practice we’ve come to know from him in the first joint practice setting he has seen.
Stock down: Offensive line and secondary
The line struggled to pass protect and had Willis scrambling all day. Plus, they were dominated in 1 on 1s. It’s tough to single out anyone, but it’s the whole group, outside of Brewer. The secondary got torched by Daniels all day, with a lot of receivers wide open, but good to see Taaffe respond and make the play at the end.