When Dolphins receiver Tahj Washington sustained a torn ACL days before Dolphins training camp last summer, wiping out his rookie season, he drew comfort from his family, including the arrival of his son, Tahj Jr., who was born weeks later.
So it was only appropriate that when Washington’s agent, Rodney Williams, informed him last Tuesday that he had made the Dolphins, he hastily set up a call with his family.
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“Told my fiance and parents; all [of them] hopped on a brief FaceTime,” he said last week, asking them not to share the news until the team announced its cuts hours later.
His reaction to making an NFL roster after sitting out his rookie season injured?
“Long time coming,” he said. “That’s the best way to describe it. I’m so grateful for this opportunity. It has been a long, long journey…. Since you were a little boy, this is what you aspire to be.”
The Dolphins could have opted to keep only five receivers on the 53-man roster (Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Dee Eskridge), but Tahj Washington made a convincing case that he was worth retaining.
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When they drafted him in the seventh round, the Dolphins knew he was a vertical threat. After all, in 2023 at Southern California, he caught 13 of 15 targets that traveled at least 20 air yards, with 6 of the 13 going for touchdowns.
His 596 deep yards on such throws were sixth in the country — a credit to both Washington and Chicago Bears and former USC quarterback and 2024 No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams, who threw those passes.
But Washington, who led the Pacific 12 in yards per catch (at 18.0) in 2023, also showed the Dolphins he’s not merely a deep threat. He displayed polished route running and an ability to get open while making numerous receptions in practice and catching 11 passes for 116 yards in three preseason games.
“You see his speed out there and his quickness and he’s been pretty dynamic with the ball,” Dolphins receivers coach Robert Prince said.
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What Washington believes he proved to coaches is that he’s “dependable on crucial downs, taking advantage of those opportunities throughout camp and coming through when needed.”
Tua Tagovailoa, Hill and Waddle all approached him after roster cuts last week, essentially telling him “big congrats, [that] it was super earned,” Washington said.
Of the Dolphins’ five third-day draft picks 16 months ago, only the two Washingtons (who are not related) will be available for Sunday’s opener at the Colts (1 p.m., CBS-4).
Fourth-round running back Jaylen Wright will miss several games after surgery. The Dolphins released fifth-round linebacker Mo Kamara (who’s now on Tampa Bay’s practice squad) and sixth-round safety Patrick McMorris, who’s now on the Giants’ practice squad.
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“Malik and I both came in together; unfortunately I got injured,” Tahj Washington said, noting he “picked up some intricacies of Malik’s game.”
With Eskridge sidelined by an injury, Tahj Washington might end up being active for Sunday’s opener.
Pass rush possibilities
Could this outside linebacker group of Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Chob Robinson and Matthew Judon be the best pass-rushing quartet in the league?
“On paper, it could be for sure,” Chubb said. “It’s about us making it happen. We hold each other to a high standard, and we’re pushing for that. But we have to prove it every week.”
Chubb spoke last week about the value of being able to rotate four skilled pass rushers during games, a luxury the Dolphins now have. That’s especially important during oppressive heat.
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“Adding Judon helps out a lot,” Chubb said. “When you have great players going in every play, it’s not going to give the [opposing] offensive linemen a rest.”
And unlike pass rushers, offensive linemen “have to be out there every play,” Chubb reminded. “Having to cycle through all four of us is not going to be easy for them. It’s going to be exciting for the Dolphins.”
Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver has concocted several packages using at least three of them together. Robinson had a sack in the preseason finale on the first play that Phillips, Chubb and Robinson were ever on the field at the same time in a game.
“You know in your head all the unique things we could do in the defense,” Chubb said. “To see the players we have inside that room, and all the possibilities we have, we know [Weaver] will do some great things with it. It’s going to be fun.”
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Chubb, who missed last season with a knee injury, said all four players have personal goals.
“JP and Chop havent had that 10 plus [sack] feeling yet,” Chubb said. “Me and Judon are trying to get back to what we’ve been doing, me coming off a year not playing, Judon coming off a year where he feel he didn’t have the most productivity in Atlanta.”
Robinson had six sacks in 17 games as a rookie. Chubb has 39.5 sacks in 73 career games, including 13.5 in 24 games with the Dolphins.
Phillips has 23 in 46 games with the Dolphins, including 10.5 sacks in 16 games that Chubb also has suited up for.
And Judon, who joined the Dolphins last month, has 72 sacks in 131 career games, including 5.5 in 17 games (15 starts) for the Falcons last season.
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Here’s Monday injury news on Tyreek Hill, De’Von Achane, Dee Eskridge, Ethan Bonner, Jaylen Wright and Austin Jackson, and an update on who is filling in for outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow, who is on leave after being arrested on Friday night.