Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa arrived in Detroit eager to put last week’s disappointing joint practice with the Chicago Bears behind him. Instead, Wednesday’s matchup against the Detroit Lions became another rough outing, as Miami’s offense never found its rhythm from the opening snap.
While Tagovailoa avoided the turnovers that hurt him in Chicago, the lack of mistakes didn’t disguise the underlying problems. Detroit’s defensive front, led by Aidan Hutchinson, repeatedly broke through the pocket, exposing gaps along the offensive line—especially on the right side, where Larry Borom filled in for the injured Austin Jackson. Tagovailoa admitted the unit “couldn’t get going” and lacked the spark that typically fuels their sessions.
In his post-practice comments, Tagovailoa described an offense that stalled in key moments, from third-down conversions to red-zone plays and full-team periods.
“We just needed one play to get us moving—whether in a move-the-ball drill, a third-down period, another team period, or red-zone work,” he explained, emphasizing the importance of meeting challenges “head-on” rather than letting issues linger.
Head coach Mike McDaniel shared a similar outlook, stressing that growth during these competitive practices is critical. He wants his players to treat every snap, good or bad, as a chance to improve. McDaniel noted that matching up with a physical, well-coached Lions team under Dan Campbell was by design, as such competition builds playoff readiness.
“It was very intentional to come to Detroit and practice against this team because of the style of football they play,” McDaniel said via NFL.com, brushing aside external criticism.
Still, the performance left much to be desired, especially on an extended 11-day preseason road trip. The Dolphins had entered the session looking to bounce back from being outmatched physically by the Bears, but instead delivered a flat effort. Whether the cause was travel weariness or a lack of intensity, Miami will need to raise its urgency in the next practice if it hopes to keep pace with Detroit and silence doubts about its edge heading into the season.
