3 stars of Miami’s victory

The Miami Dolphins came away with a 26-24 victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday night to open their 2022 preseason.

In a game that featured many second-stringers and rookies fighting to make the main roster, 16 Dolphins made their professional debut.

Another debut was that of Mike McDaniel, Miami’s first-year rookie head coach. Speaking of rookies, Dolphins quarterback Skylar Thompson played the entire game under center and had a memorable and impressive performance.

While there were a number of key players who stood out for the Dolphins, three players really shined above the rest.

Skylar Shines Saturday

Thompson was Miami’s seventh-round draft pick back in April, and the Kansas State product is looking to solidify a spot on the 53-man roster, which potentially makes current backup Teddy Bridgewater a bit worried.

On Saturday, he went 20-for-28 in his passes for a 71.4% completion percentage and 218 yards. He hit wide receiver Lynn Bowden Jr. for a pretty 22-yard score, as the pair connected a total of three times for 55 yards.

Thompson’s poise in the pocket, crafty play-action work, and grit in some scramble plays flashed more signs of a seasoned pro rather than a Day 3 drafted rookie.

Miami’s rookie head coach praised his rookie quarterback post-game.

“I have to check myself when certain things will happen during a game or practice where I’ll feel myself getting impatient with him because I’ve completely forgotten he’s a rookie,” McDaniel stated to the media. “But he is a rookie, and to his credit, we rely on him as a veteran.”

Lynn Bowden Jr. states his case in two phases

The third-year veteran missed 2021 due to injury and has been rumored to be on the trade block recently thanks to Miami’s deep and talented wide receiver room.

However, Bowden shined on Saturday night as both a receiver and dual-threat special team return man. Bowden’s three catches helped Miami earn a victory over Tampa Bay, and in addition to his offensive work, he returned a punt and a kickoff well enough to even challenge ownership of those roles. His 18-yard punt return had a few shifty moves and tough-earned yards, as it was evident Bowden isn’t going down or being moved, without a fight at least.

Bowden still may have work to do in another preseason performance, but he arguably did the most of any Dolphin on Saturday night to support his case for staying in South Florida.

Jason Sanders is back

Sanders was a 2020 All-Pro, and in 2021 something was off. At this point, it’s a very popular and widespread theory that the holding was the issue. Statistically, the proof seems to be in the punter, as new holder Thomas Morstead has seemingly fixed those issues.

Sanders hit all six of his kicking attempts, four field goals and two-point after tries, including a 52 and 53-yarder. His leg strength has never been a worry, as, from 2018-2020, he was a remarkable 12-for-15 from 50 yards and more. Last season, he made just two of his six attempts, and when looking at all the variables, it truly didn’t seem that the fault was on him.

Sanders, with Morstead seemingly taken pride in his holding, should revert back to 2020 form, where he was a record-setting kicker for Miami, as well as league-wide.

An accurate and confident Sanders makes the Dolphins more dangerous in deeper parts of the field, as it seems the fifth-year kicker is ready for another career year.