Miami Dolphins rookie class learning way of NFL in preseason

MIAMI GARDENS — When Miami Dolphins rookie wide receiver Caleb Douglas took the field at last week’s preseason opener on the road against the Washington Commanders, he found it surreal that he finally made it to his first NFL game.

“I walked the field before the game started to take it all in, like, ‘This is what you prayed for. You were once a kid (wanting) to be in the league. Now, you’re here,’ ” he detailed last week after the exhibition at Northwest Stadium.

“Honestly, the national anthem was just like, ‘This is crazy. You’re finally here.’ It felt good.”

He’s not the only one going through those emotions this month, as the Dolphins play their preseason slate. Miami has 13 rookies in its draft class, plus several other undrafted rookies also seeing their first professional action.

The Dolphins’ second preseason game brings the team to Hard Rock Stadium for the first time this year, a 4 p.m. kickoff Saturday against the New York Giants. As it’s uncertain how much veteran starters will play in the exhibition, the rookies figure to be featured.

As Douglas, the third-round pick out of Texas Tech, soaked in the moment pregame last week, that moment wasn’t too big for him when he got the opportunity to make a highlight-reel catch on Miami’s opening series.

He fought through pass interference, with his right arm held, to make a one-handed catch with his left on a third down that kept what eventually turned into a touchdown drive going.

Douglas redeemed himself with that one, as one play earlier, he made a rookie mistake, letting his left foot slide out of bounds to turn what should’ve been a routine sideline catch go for an incomplete pass. He got the learning experience and the highlight, all in two plays.

“It was super fun going against somebody else,” Douglas said then. “Going out there and getting somebody different, and then, honestly, the tempo of the game was not as fast as it is in practice. You kind of get a breather in the game, so it made everything a lot more fun.”

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Dolphins rookies get to go against an opponent for the second time Saturday. They also got their second taste of an NFL joint practice Thursday with the Giants.

“It’s really cool. It’s something that’s very unique to the NFL,” linebacker and second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez said after Thursday drills. “You don’t ever do this growing up. You don’t ever do it in high school, in college.”

Rodriguez has rapidly ascended with a standout training camp. At the joint practice, he intercepted Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart, leaping up for the ball as he was dropped back into zone coverage.

“I was just kind of playing the defense,” he said. “I think it was just a really advantageous position for us. I think in that period it was either second or third down and forever. So it was kind of rough on the offensive part from a play-calling standpoint, so I was just kind of there doing my job with the play call that was called.”

First-round pick and cornerback Chris Johnson had his chance at an interception in the first preseason game against Washington. But as he trailed the intended receiver and the ball was thrown behind its target, he dropped it in the end zone.

“I should’ve picked it,” Johnson said, “but it is what it is. Just got to make that play next time.”

Johnson felt a similar moment to Douglas right before he was stepping onto the field for his first defensive series. It came after the offense’s long scoring drive, and he took a deep breath before locking into focus.

“It was really cool just to experience first time in another stadium, playing,” he said. “But also, I was really comfortable doing it.”

For offensive lineman and fellow first-round pick Kadyn Proctor, he admits there were nerves before he settled in.

“Really, just kind of had to get the first play out, get the jitters out,” Proctor said, “and then, from there on, it’s just play football. It’s as simple as that.”

The left guard enjoyed getting to block all over the field on the opening drive. And on running back De’Von Achane’s 1-yard touchdown run, the play went to his side.

“You got to love it,” Proctor said. “It’s really a big-man block right there, and I’m glad I could help out the team. It was kind of special going to film and going to the iPad after that and every offensive lineman ended up in the end zone driving a dude in the end zone. That’s what we want to see at the end of the (drive).”

Different Miami rookies are going through a variety of experiences.

Fourth-round linebacker selections Trey Moore and Kyle Louis present their unique versatility. Moore, who is vying for a starting role as a Sam linebacker in the base 4-3 package, can also rush the passer on the edge. Louis has started taking safety reps in practice, and may end up on the back end of the defense Saturday.

“He can do kind of everything on the football field,” Rodriguez said of Louis. “He really helps us out in getting a strong guy to fit the run if we need an extra hat in there, but also he’s athletic enough and savvy enough playing football that he can play in coverage and he can play in the post and he can play a half. He can do everything on the football field on the defensive side.”

As Douglas is shining in camp, fellow wide receiver and third-round pick Chris Bell has gotten his first few NFL practices after being activated from the non-football injury list, completing his rehab of his torn ACL from college at Louisville.

Rookie slot receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. had to come back from his own minor injury earlier in camp and has made several big plays in the past week of practice.

Safety Michael Taaffe has been picked on at times by opposing quarterbacks in the joint sessions, but he has also made a big pass breakup in each of those practices, including one to wrap up the day’s work in the end zone at the Commanders’ facility.

Tight end and third-round pick Will Kacmarek is already showing elite run-blocking that could make him a key cog in opening up holes. Fellow tight end Seydou Traore will have to rebound from dropping a pass in his preseason debut.

Guard DJ Campbell has seen his early struggles, but then has sprinkled in some wins in one-on-one reps that show progress.

Defensive end and seventh-round pick Max Llewellyn has shown some flashes that could make him a candidate for a rotational role rushing off the edge.

The Dolphins, on Friday, waived guard James Ester with an injury settlement after he was helped off the field in the joint practice with the Giants. They signed linebacker Stephen Dix Jr. The undrafted rookie out of Arizona was among players Miami had in for tryouts Wednesday.