The Good and The Bad from Miami’s First Preseason Game

The Good and The Bad from Miami’s First Preseason Game

The Miami Dolphins opened their 2025 preseason with a 24–24 tie against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, offering a mixed but encouraging glimpse of what’s to come this season.

The result itself may be inconsequential, but the performances on both sides of the ball told a deeper story.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa led the offense in limited action, completing 5 of 6 passes for 27 yards. He looked composed and efficient, guiding the Dolphins down the field on the opening possession; however, that promising drive ended in disappointment.

After reaching the Bears’ 1-yard line, Miami was stuffed on four consecutive rushing attempts, turning the ball over on downs. It was a frustrating sequence for the first-team offense, highlighting early questions about short-yardage execution and red-zone blocking.

Despite that setback, the Dolphins’ ground game bounced back. Miami would finish the game with three rushing touchdowns, and part of that comes from the solid performance of rookie running back Ollie Gordon II. Second-year running back Jaylen Wright, along with veteran Alexander Mattison, also scored a touchdown each in the game.

De’Von Achane also made an impact, flashing his signature explosiveness by averaging over seven yards per carry on limited touches.

One of the brightest spots came from Miami’s special teams. The kick return unit consistently delivered strong field position, with sharp blocking and aggressive returns keeping the Dolphins on the front foot.

Though they didn’t break one for a touchdown, the returners displayed vision, burst, and awareness, early signs that this phase of the game could become a hidden strength in 2025. Jason Sanders added a clean performance in the kicking game, and the coverage units held their own throughout.

The defense had its share of encouraging signs. Rookie defensive tackle Kenneth Grant made his presence felt with four tackles, a batted pass, and interior disruption that caught the attention of both fans and coaches.

Undrafted edge rusher Derrick McClendon contributed with a sack and two tackles for loss. The Dolphins’ second- and third-string defenders showed resilience, especially late in the game when the Bears pushed for a go-ahead score. 

Rookie left guard Jonah Savaiinaea also showed flashes of his potential. He was the starting left guard for the game, and he had some good moments that he can build upon for the rest of the year. However, not everything went according to plan.