MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Tua Tagovailoa made his preseason debut Saturday night at Hard Rock Stadium.
Tyreek Hill did not.
And so it will be at least one more week or maybe three (when the Miami Dolphins open the regular season Sept. 11 against New England) before everyone gets a look at that combo in game action.
Even without Hill, Tagovailoa turned in a mostly-efficient performance on the Dolphins’ first two drives of their 15-13 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders in their penultimate preseason game.
Skyler Thompson, who took every snap under center in last week’s 26-24 win over Tampa Bay, entered the game on the final play of the third quarter and completed 9 of 10 passes for 129 yards including a 19-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to ZaQuandre White with 10:27 left in the fourth quarter.
But Jason Sanders, who made a 57-yard field goal in the second quarter made his first six attempts of the preseason, hit the left upright on a go-ahead 46-yard field goal attempt with 1:37 left in the game sealing the win for the Raiders.
Tagovailoa played Miami’s first 13 snaps and completed 6 of his 8 passes for 58 yards and was not sacked.
His longest completion came on a short toss to Chase Edmonds, which he turned into a 17-yard gain. Tagovailoa had more air yards on a 16-yard toss to Trent Sherfield on the team’s second drive.
But Miami did not attempt a longer throw while Tagovailoa was in the game.
Hill took part in warmups pregame, but later walked out of the tunnel in shorts and without any pads under his jersey.
A week after sitting The Dolphins listed nine players pregame who were not expected to play, but Hill was not one of them. Neither was running back Raheem Mostert nor linebacker Melvin Ingram, who also did not play.
Teddy Bridgewater also played after sitting out last week against Tampa Bay, and completed 10 of 20 passes for 119 yards. Bridgewater was not sacked, but he was flagged for intentional grounding in the end zone in the second quarter which resulted in a Raiders safety after Curtis Bolton came free on a blitz.
On the play, tight end Mike Gesicki whiffed on his block which flushed Bridgewater out wide and into Bolton’s grasp.
Gesicki struggled during the 25 snaps he played, dropping a pass in the first quarter and later had a would-be catch denied as the ball was jarred loose on a hit from a defender. Gesicki caught three passes for 27 yards including a 16-yarder on a pass over the middle from Bridgewater.
The Dolphins once again struggled to run the ball with their first and second teamers in the game. Miami rushers carried the ball 14 times for 28 yards through the first three quarters of the game and finished with 37 yards on 18 carries overall.
The offensive line, which still did not have tackle Terron Armstead, provided solid pass protection when the first team was in the game. The Dolphins started Larnel Coleman, who was penalized for a costly false start on their second offensive series, at left tackle. Liam Eichenberg started at left guard, Connor Williams at center, Robert Hunt at right guard and Austin Jackson at right tackle.
Chase Edmonds played the first 10 offensive snaps. Sony Michel carried the ball twice for no yards. Salvon Ahmed, who appeared to suffer a finger injury during the game, and Myles Gaskin combined for nine carries for 32 yards.
On defense, cornerbacks Xavien Howard, who did not play, and injured Byron Jones’ value to the Dolphins’ defense was evident once again.
Noah Igbinoghene and Nik Needham started at corner, but struggled on the first series as the Raiders marched 75 yards on 12 plays, culminating with a 2-yard touchdown run by Zamir White.
Vegas backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham completed 5 of 7 passes on the series against the Dolphins’ first team defense. Needham left the game favoring his left hand. He did not re-enter the game.
Mackensie Alexander, who was recently acquired after Trill Williams was lost for the season due to injury, saw his first action as well with some ups and downs. Alexander lined up in the slot when Nick Mullens hit Keelan Cole on a crossing route for a 22-yard gain with 11:48 to go in the second quarter. He later made a nice pass breakup on a slant to Tyron Johnson to prevent a first down.
Other notables
— One of the defensive highlights for Dolphins’ first teamers was Zach Seiler’s sack of Stidham on a rush up the middle on the first Raiders drive.
— Rookie receiver Erik Ezukanma led all pass catchers with six receptions for 114 yards.
— In addition to Hill, Mostert, Howard, Armstead and Ingram, Jaylen Waddle, Eric Rowe, Alec Ingold, John Lovett, Tanner Conner, Brennan Scarlett and Greg Little did not play.
