The Miami Dolphins showcased their young talent in a pre-season victory Friday, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 20-13 at Hard Rock Stadium. Dolphins’ Head Coach Mike McDaniel expressed satisfaction with his team’s performance. “We managed to clinch the game with solid efforts, and it was rewarding to achieve this in front of our home crowd,” he stated.
The game primarily featured the team’s rookies, as the starters sat out. Rookie Jaylen Wright, a fourth-round pick, stood out by rushing for 55 yards on ten carries, including a six-yard touchdown run in the second quarter which proved to be the decider. Wright demonstrated both speed and power, effectively fending off defenders.
Reacting to his debut, Wright shared his excitement, “It felt amazing. It’s been my lifelong dream to play here, and despite the nerves, it showed how passionate I am about football.”
Coach McDaniel was impressed by Wright’s confident debut. “He adapted well, especially to situations he initially didn’t favor. It was a strong start,” McDaniel commented.
In the second half, Chris Brooks added 40 yards on 12 carries, while second-round pick Patrick Paul played extensively at left tackle, hinting at a promising future.
The quarterback duties were divided between Skylar Thompson and Mike White, who together struggled, combining for a meager 12-for-33 for 121 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Thompson, however, edged White by throwing the sole touchdown of the game.
Tanner Conner led the receiving squad with four catches for 70 yards, including a game-long 43-yard reception. Rookie Malik Washington also impressed, contributing in both the offense and special teams.
Kicker Jason Sanders delivered as usual, successfully making two out of three field goal attempts, including a 58-yarder that opened the scoring.
Defensively, rookies Patrick McMorris and undrafted Storm Duck played impressively, with Duck breaking up two critical passes in Atlanta’s final drive to seal the game.
However, the Dolphins didn’t escape the game without injuries. Special teams specialist Siran Neal, linemen Kion Smith and Aaron Brewer (who is now week-to-week with a hand injury), linebackers Grayson Murphy and Ezekiel Vandenburgh, and tight ends Tanner Conner and Jody Fortson all suffered injuries during the match.
