Jeff Hafley Gives Dolphins Injury Updates, Preseason Plans Ahead of Washington
Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley met with the media Monday and provided several important updates as his team prepares for a joint practice with the Washington Commanders, then plays the Commanders Friday night in a preseason game.
Hafley addressed Miami’s growing injury list, discussed his plans for playing starters in the preseason, praised De’Von Achane and Ethan Bonner, and explained why discipline and eliminating penalties are becoming bigger priorities as training camp progresses.
Dolphins Injury Updates
Hafley opened his press conference with updates on several injured players.
Kicker Zane Gonzalez is considered “week to week” (Miami released Gonzalez later on Monday), while cornerback JuJu Brents is not expected to practice this week. Hafley stressed that he does not believe Brents’ injury will be a long-term issue.
Defensive lineman Clelin Ferrell will be sidelined for a few weeks and will not practice Monday.
Kevin Coleman Jr. also isn’t expected to return this week, while Ben Sims and Dante Trader are getting closer. Hafley indicated that Sims and Trader could potentially return next week.
The injuries will create additional opportunities for players further down the depth chart as Miami gets its first chance to work against another team.
Will Dolphins Starters Play Friday?
Hafley isn’t ready to commit to exactly how much his starters will play against Washington.
His decision will largely depend on what happens during the Dolphins’ joint practice with the Commanders.
“Everybody who is on our team right now needs to be ready to play,” Hafley said.
The joint practice will be particularly important because Hafley wants to evaluate players competing against unfamiliar opponents rather than teammates they have faced throughout training camp.
He also wants to maximize Miami’s practice reps. If a player receives 40-plus snaps during the joint session, Hafley said the Dolphins must consider that workload when determining how much that player should play two days later.
Hafley expects to have a clearer picture following the joint practice.
De’Von Achane Continues to Impress Hafley
One of Hafley’s strongest endorsements of the press conference was reserved for running back De’Von Achane.
Hafley called Achane one of the NFL’s best players at his position and highlighted his versatility as both a runner and receiver.
But Hafley believes one aspect of Achane’s game doesn’t receive enough attention: his intelligence.
Hafley praised Achane’s understanding of protections and defenses and said the two regularly have conversations about what Miami’s offense and defense are trying to accomplish.
He has also noticed Achane developing as a leader.
“He’ll in his own way, go from player to player and help him out and push him and lead him,” Hafley said. “I think he’s growing as a leader and we need him to do so.”
Hafley’s appreciation for Achane goes back to his time with the Green Bay Packers. When Green Bay prepared to face Miami two years ago, Hafley remembered studying Achane and wondering why the running back wasn’t receiving more national attention.
Hafley considered Achane one of Miami’s most dynamic weapons then, and his opinion clearly hasn’t changed.
Hafley Wants Players Taking Chances in Practice
Hafley also provided insight into his coaching philosophy.
Rather than having players worry about making mistakes during practice, Hafley wants them experimenting with techniques and pushing themselves outside their comfort zones.
His message is centered around “process over result.”
“How do you grow if you’re going to play things safe?” Hafley said.
Using cornerbacks as an example, Hafley said a player with exceptional length should experiment with techniques that take advantage of those physical traits. If it doesn’t work initially, that’s fine. Hafley would rather have players learn during practice than become afraid of making mistakes.
He also stressed that coaches shouldn’t simply yell at a player after he gets beaten. Instead, Hafley wants his staff to understand what the player saw, what technique he attempted and why it didn’t work.
Effort and physicality are different matters. Hafley made clear that players will be held accountable if they aren’t running to the football or playing hard.
Ethan Bonner Making a Strong Impression
One player who appears to be helping himself during training camp is cornerback Ethan Bonner.
Hafley described Bonner as consistent, quiet and professional.
“He’s made a lot of plays, and it’s not just like here or there,” Hafley said.
The next test will come against Washington, where Hafley wants to see Bonner compete in one-on-one situations and cover opposing receivers on third down.
“I’m very pleased with Bonner right now,” Hafley said.
With Brents and Trader currently sidelined, Bonner should have an excellent opportunity to continue making his case for a significant role in Miami’s secondary.
Dolphins Ready for a Different Opponent
After spending weeks competing against each other, Hafley believes his players are ready to see another jersey.
He acknowledged that training camp can become repetitive and even chippy when players face the same teammates every day.
The Washington practices should provide another important test, especially for Miami’s younger players.
Hafley wants to put those players into uncomfortable situations now so they can learn how to handle the anxiety and intensity they’ll experience during regular-season games.
Jalen Tolbert Becoming Dependable
Hafley also had positive comments about wide receiver Jalen Tolbert.
He praised Tolbert’s professionalism, work ethic and willingness to block on the perimeter. Hafley also likes what Tolbert brings to Miami’s younger players.
The key moving forward will be consistency.
“I think he’s really good with the young players and he’s becoming dependable,” Hafley said.
Hafley Wants the Dolphins to Be Physical
Miami conducted two live tackling periods during Saturday’s practice, and Hafley liked what he saw.
The Dolphins coach believes practicing physical football is necessary if Miami wants that identity during the season.
“We want to be a physical team,” Hafley said.
At the same time, Hafley understands there must be a balance between creating physical practices and keeping players healthy.
The tackling periods also allowed coaches to work on proper technique, particularly making sure defenders keep their heads up and tackle safely.
Hafley believes those live situations are valuable because they replicate moments that simply can’t be simulated with traditional “tag” tackling during practice.
Discipline Is Miami’s Next Training Camp Challenge
Hafley believes the Dolphins have made progress in how they practice, run to the football and play physically.
Now he wants to see better attention to detail.
“We need to be a disciplined football team,” Hafley said.
That means eliminating pre-snap and post-snap penalties and avoiding mistakes that force the offense backward.
Hafley acknowledged that Miami has committed pre-snap penalties during camp, but explained there is some risk involved with installing and practicing different snap counts.
Rather than simplifying everything to avoid mistakes now, Hafley wants the offense working through those situations during camp so players are prepared once the regular season arrives.
However, the mistakes eventually need to stop.
Hafley said officials have attended nearly every Dolphins practice, allowing coaches to identify penalties and emphasize them during meetings. He cited one red-zone play that would have resulted in a touchdown but was wiped out because of an alignment mistake.
“This is a seven-point penalty,” Hafley recalled telling the player responsible.
Hafley said Miami will continue coaching and teaching players through mistakes before considering more drastic solutions.
Process Over Results Against Washington
Hafley closed much of his football discussion by returning to a theme he has emphasized throughout training camp: improvement matters more than the immediate result.
He has tremendous respect for Washington head coach Dan Quinn and expects the Commanders to present a strong challenge.
But Hafley isn’t primarily concerned with “winning” a joint practice.
He wants the Dolphins to compete, execute, play with detail, be physical and play clean football.
More importantly, he wants continuous improvement.
“I want to see us better against the Giants than we were against Washington,” Hafley said. “And I want to see us better against Atlanta than we were against the Giants.”
For Hafley, that’s what the preseason is ultimately about.
The Dolphins don’t need to look like a finished product in August. But by the time the regular season arrives, Hafley expects them to be significantly better than the team that opened training camp.
