All articles tagged with #malik willis
In the Dolphins’ preseason opener, Caleb Douglas flashed with a one-handed grab after an earlier out-of-bounds miscue, Malik Willis showed mobility and productive bootleg plays, the starting offensive line looked strong while the depth behind them struggled, and rookie Chris Johnson began to carve out a role as the top nickel defender.
In the Dolphins’ preseason opener, Malik Willis led a 14-play touchdown drive, going 4-of-5 for 45 yards and adding 9 rushing yards on two attempts. Coach Jeff Hafley called him extremely composed and accurate with strong leadership, highlighting the O-line and the run game with De’Von Achane; Achane added that Willis’s dual-threat ability makes him a dynamic addition as Miami builds its post-Tua foundation.
Malik Willis showed command in his first Dolphins action, directing a 93-yard opening drive and finishing 4-for-5 for 43 yards as the Dolphins fell 20-7 to the Washington Commanders in a preseason debut. Rookie Caleb Douglas hauled in a spectacular 28-yard one-handed catch on the first third-down, underscoring early chemistry. The starting offensive line blocked well, enabling De’Von Achane to gain 36 yards and score, and the linebacker corps looked like the strongest unit. But depth behind the starters struggled: backups threw multiple interceptions, the offense stalled, and the defense allowed 20 unanswered points, highlighting depth concerns if injuries mount.
In Ashburn, the Washington Commanders controlled the day in a joint practice with the Dolphins, exploiting a depleted Miami secondary as Jayden Daniels dissected Miami’s defense in 7-on-7 and 11-on-11 drills. Miami’s offense struggled with pass protection and consistency, Willis showing mobility but also taking a late pick-six, while several Dolphins regulars (Sieler, Trader Jr., Brents, Johnson) were sidelined. Caleb Douglas emerged for Miami with a stock-up performance, but the offensive line and secondary were the day’s stock-downs as the teams mixed in a heavy physical pace.
At Hard Rock Stadium, the Dolphins wrapped up the third block of training camp with live tackling and red-zone work. Malik Willis went 7-for-13 with a rushing TD but couldn’t finish strong, while Tahj Washington stood out with a pair of big plays including a ~50-yard catch. Ethan Robinson had the day’s lone interception and Riley Patterson went 5-for-5 on field goals, including a 51-yard make. Several players were absent, and the day highlighted solid OL play amid some pass-rush frustration.
In Dolphins' eighth padded practice, the defense forced four interceptions (Miles Battle with two, Louis Moore and Jackson Woodard with one each) as the offense struggled with ball security. Malik Willis delivered his best showing of the week, connecting on a long pass to Caleb Douglas and a TD to Will Kacmarek. Austin Jackson returned to practice; Jeremiah Franklin made his debut at tight end, while several veterans were sidelined.
NFL training camps spotlight four QB battles for Week 1 of 2026: Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota (Murray favored to win), Tua Tagovailoa vs. Michael Penix Jr. (Penix hobbled by ACL rehab while Tagovailoa deals with a minor back issue, keeping Tagovailoa ahead), Deshaun Watson vs. Shedeur Sanders in Cleveland (Sanders gaining traction but Watson’s longer track record keeps him in the mix), and Kirk Cousins vs. Fernando Mendoza in Las Vegas (Cousins as the starter with Mendoza on a patient development path). The piece also flags veterans like Baker Mayfield, Jacoby Brissett, Geno Smith, and Malik Willis as players who must prove their worth to secure future roles. Predictions: Murray, Tagovailoa, Watson, and Cousins win Week 1 starts, with Mendoza waiting in the wings.
At Dolphins training camp, Malik Willis rebounded from a rough day with a TD pass in red-zone drills and the first designed rushing score of camp, while rookie Caleb Douglas stood out with a one‑handed 5-yard TD catch in red-zone work. Willis also had a late interception on a tipped pass, and backup QB Quinn Ewers showed indecision under pressure as the team continues to evaluate Willis’ development in the offense ahead of a day off.
Malik Willis delivered his best showing of the Dolphins’ training camp on Day 3, flashing his arm and mobility by rushing for a 7-yard TD and throwing two red-zone TDs (7 yards to Caleb Douglas and 10 yards to Ben Sims); he also threw an interception and was sacked late. The piece highlights his dual-threat potential and, reportedly, a $45 million guarantee with a path to the 2026 starting job, alongside other camp standouts and defensive highlights.
In the Dolphins’ final practice of the first block, Malik Willis looked sharper at quarterback (about 6-for-10 with a couple TDs) and added QB keepers, as the red-zone period produced more offense. Caleb Douglas was heavily involved with multiple catches, including a near end-zone grab, while the defense logged a takeaway and several stops. Other quarterbacks (Ewers, Miller, Gronowski) showed flashes but didn’t dominate, and notable highlights included Donovan Edwards’ 8-yard TD run and sustained activity from several veterans. Attendance was full for the session, and the team returns Sunday for the first open practice at 9:30 a.m.
Day 2 of Dolphins training camp featured Malik Willis scuffling in 11-on-11 drills, tossing an interception on a tipped pass, a near-interception on a rushed throw, and a dropped potential pick, as coach Jeff Hafley managed workload while other players showed mixed progress.
Miami Dolphins opened 2026 training camp under new coach Jeff Hafley with high energy, highlighted by Willie Gay Jr.’s one‑hand interception; Malik Willis showed steady, mistake‑free work while Quinn Ewers had early issues, signaling a competitive QB battle. Several veterans returned from injuries (Achane, Jackson, Salyer, Douglas, Beal Jr., Goode) as Hafley kept Day 1 focused on 11‑on‑11 drills with limited pads, and Clelin Ferrell debuted as No. 98.
Patrick Mahomes’ seven-year, $448 million extension sets a new quarterback-market benchmark, fueling the Dolphins’ decision to move on from Tua Tagovailoa and pursue a cost-controlled option with Malik Willis. With cap relief on the horizon and the potential to add talent, Miami could gain a rebuilding window, while rival AFC East teams face pressure to keep pace.
The Dolphins’ final mandatory minicamp practice was a red-zone showcase, with Malik Willis directing TD passes (including to Malik Washington) and celebrating in the end zone as the offense controlled 11-on-11 work inside the 20; other quarterbacks and receivers contributed TDs, and while the defense flashed a few stops, the day emphasized fundamentals and install pacing as Miami builds chemistry ahead of training camp.
Day 1 of the Dolphins’ mandatory minicamp was non-padded and skewed toward the passing game, with Malik Willis hitting Jalen Tolbert for a 20-yard gain during a play-action sequence after early runs by Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II. The defense flashed at times with stops, a JuJu Brents interception in 7-on-7, and a sack by Josh Uche. De’Von Achane and Austin Jackson returned to limited drills after injuries, while several players rehabbing sat out. Special teams saw a fumble on a kickoff return by Malik Washington, but most others handled returns well, and rookies like Chris Johnson contributed to ball disruption during drills.