Most of the top players for both teams sat out the preseason opener between the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which allowed lower-on-the-depth-chart players an opportunity in the Dolphins’ 26-24 exhibition win on Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium.
Quarterback Skylar Thompson, the rookie seventh-round pick who got the start with Tua Tagovailoa among 20-plus Dolphins resting, went 20 for 28 for 218 yards, a touchdown and narrowly avoided an interception.
With backups in the secondary allowing the Buccaneers to drive late, former Miami Hurricanes Lou Groza Award-winning kicker Jose Borregales had a game-winning field goal attempt doink off the right upright no good, preserving the preseason win for Miami.
Thompson’s second-quarter touchdown lifted Miami from a mostly lackluster first half, hitting Lynn Bowden open in the end zone on a double move for the 22-yard score.
“The whole objective of the preseason was to have some adversity and fight through it,” first-year Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel told the CBS4 broadcast at halftime. “Obviously, we didn’t come out the exact way we wanted. Guys are getting used to tackling, but what I did like is no one panicked and then people made some plays and then we were opportunistic.”
Thompson and Bowden connected again to start the second half for a 29-yard gain over the top of the Buccaneers defense on a drive that eventually resulted in a field goal. Bowden, who spent the 2021 season on injured reserve, led Miami receivers with 55 yards on three catches on Saturday.
“It’s an [opportunity],” Bowden said. “I missed a whole year last year — just have to put it on film and just keep stacking the days, just keep going.”
The Thompson-to-Bowden score came on the following play after cornerback Elijah Campbell intercepted a short pass to the flat, ripping the ball away from a receiver.
Linebacker Sam Eguavoen, who was having a rough night with missed tackles early, scored a defensive touchdown on a 33-yard fumble return. Outside linebacker Darius Hodge hit Buccaneers quarterback Kyle Trask’s arm before it went forward on a pass to force the fumble.
“You just got to get it before he gets it off,” Hodge said. “You don’t get that opportunity a lot, so when you do, you definitely got to take advantage of it.”
The Buccaneers scored a first-quarter touchdown from quarterback Blaine Gabbert to receiver Jaelon Darden where it appeared Dolphins strong safety Brandon Jones was not in the right spot in zone coverage as Darden ended up open between Noah Igbinoghene and Nik Needham, the cornerback who was playing free safety over the top.
Tampa Bay, with former Florida standout Trask replacing Gabbert to start the second quarter, went for a 15-play, 86-yard drive to follow where backup Dolphins defenders had multiple missed tackles, including a noticeable one from Eguavoen. Ke’Shawn Vaughn capped the drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
The Buccaneers scored a third-quarter touchdown from Trask to Jerreth Sterns where cornerback D’Angelo Ross was with Sterns 1-on-1 in the end zone but couldn’t get turned around to defend the pass. The Dolphins’ cornerback depth remains a concern as Buccaneers passers combined to go 30 of 38 for 314 yards, two touchdowns and the Campbell interception.
“I think we showed a lot of resilience [Saturday], and at the end of the day, we got it done,” said outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips who was one of few starters to play.
Cornerback Trill Williams had two injury scares in second-half play, returning from one, but the second one appeared more serious with McDaniel walking out to the field to check on him before he was eventually carted off. He was later seen exiting Raymond James Stadium on crutches.
“There was some concern, definitely for his lower extremity, but we’ll find out more [Sunday] exactly what it is,” said McDaniel of Williams, who was emotional after going down. “He’s a competitor. He did not want to be hurt, and I think that’s what you saw from him, was emotion, that he felt like he was making plays and this was a setback.”
Cornerback depth could be a concern going forward for Miami after the Bucs had the passing efficiency they did on Saturday and Williams went down, along with fellow cornerback Tino Ellis. McDaniel hinted postgame that general manager Chris Grier may be looking into available cornerbacks this week.
“You get some dings, you have to kind of reassess. You have to figure out exactly the timeline,” McDaniel said. “But I know Chris and his staff — I saw he had his backpack on — so he’s probably already started to look at guys just in case we get unforeseen or, really, any bad news [Sunday] on some lengthy injuries. We’ll just be prepared for whatever is dealt.”
While tight end Mike Gesicki, playing 2022 on the franchise tag, has seldom seen targets in training camp practices in McDaniel’s new offense, Gesicki got the Dolphins’ first offensive play to come his way, a short pitch and catch with room to run for 13 yards.
With free agent offensive line additions Terron Armstead and Connor Williams out, Larnel Coleman started at left tackle and Michael Deiter at center. Deiter had only returned to practice on Wednesday from a foot injury. He didn’t have any poor snaps, which have been a problem for Williams in practice.
Coleman gave up the third-down sack of Thompson on Miami’s opening drive that forced the Dolphins to settle for a 33-yard field goal after Thompson started 4 of 4 for 31 yards on the opening series. On a third down for an ensuing series, the Buccaneers ran a stunt in front of Deiter and right guard Robert Hunt, which got Thompson hit on the incomplete pass.
The Dolphins had another drive stall deep into the first half where right tackle Kion Smith, replacing Austin Jackson at that point, allowed a sack, causing Miami to settle for a 52-yard Jason Sanders field goal.
With several starters out, Miami trotted out a defensive unit to start that involved defensive linemen Raekwon Davis, John Jenkins and Porter Gustin, outside linebackers Phillips and Andrew Van Ginkel, inside linebackers Eguavoen and Duke Riley, cornerbacks Igbinoghene and Keion Crossen and safeties Jones and Needham, who would be the team’s nickel when Xavien Howard and Byron Jones are available at cornerback and Jevon Holland is in at free safety. Crossen had a physical pass breakup on a deep 1-on-1 opportunity.
In addition to Thompson’s outing, fellow Dolphins rookies in third-round linebacker Channing Tindall and fourth-round wide receiver Erik Ezukanma got their first preseason action in the NFL. Tindall made his first two tackles, and Ezukanma made his first reception, a 14-yard catch and run. Deandre Johnson, the undrafted rookie out of the University of Miami and Miami Southridge High, split a late sack with Miami Central High product Owen Carney.
“It was an exciting experience, honestly, just going out there, stepping out on the field,” Tindall said. “I got a little bit of goosebumps out there, dreaming as a kid growing up. It’s just amazing.”
Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders went 4 for 4 with converted field goals of 33, 52, 23 and 53 yards.
Preston Williams took in the Dolphins’ first punt return, and Bowden was back deep on the initial kick return, a touchback.
Both starting running backs Saturday, the Dolphins’ Sony Michel (American Heritage) and Buccaneers’ Giovani Bernard (St. Thomas Aquinas) were South Florida high school football stars.
The debut of McDaniel’s run game in the exhibition didn’t provide much early, although key offensive linemen Armstead and Williams sat, as did tailbacks Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert. McDaniel also noted the Buccaneers were committed to stopping the run.
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