Read the full transcript from Head Coach Mike McDaniel's press conference on August 3, 2025.
Q: Nice to not to have to ask about injuries Friday, but that changes today after the last couple of days. I was going to ask you on WR Dee Eskridge and CB Cam Smith. Is it looking like days or weeks or months for those two players?
"Woah, Dee Eskridge had cramps, so the timetable for his return is now."
Q: And CB Cam Smith we saw sidelined the last couple days.
"Yeah, this is the story that we're all awaiting his ability to stay on the field, so every time that there's a setback we're trying to assess but got to stay on the field to continue to develop. I like the stuff that he's doing in his development when he's on the field."
Q: Could he be back soon, do you think, or is it something serious?
"Sooner than later. I'm hoping the sooner the better, but yeah, it's days, not weeks."
Q: Can we get an update on T Austin Jackson and how did he suffer the injury? Was it something that was preexisting or is it related or not related to the knee?
"He got the injury playing football. Got stepped on. Has nothing to do with anything but that. With Austin (Jackson), the bottom line for me where he's at – out of all the guys, I would say – he had some time off, he knocked some rust off, he got back and in my opinion exceeded where he was playing before so we're fortunate that timetable doesn't seen to be into the regular season. So in those situations the ideal for the individual, it's okay at this point in camp, opportunities. Like all you're doing is finding more about the next guy up. I thought Larry (Borom) had a great day yesterday, so I found out something about Larry. Now maybe did he take the ones on by surprise? We get to see after prep the counterpunch by the edge players and with the ones that's very monumental really, so it was a good day of growth for Larry and Austin is projected to be starting Week 1, so good day for the Dolphins."
Q: How was LB Jaelan Phillips and will we see him today?
"It was a bruise – I think it might cost him one day just because of the swelling. A day, two tops, but he'll be back. I don't think today, though."
Q: WR Tyreek Hill said that replacing RB De'Von Achane with RB Jaylen Wright would kind of help solve some of the Dolphins short-yardage woes. Just wanted to get your thoughts on that.)
"I thought it was genius reporting by Tyreek (Hill) seeing how we had a short-yardage period that very day that you guys were in attendance for, and his suggestion was I guess congruent with Coach Studesville – that's exactly how we repped the backs in that short-yardage period that very day. But we thought it was funny that he reported the news that wasn't news on that practice day in that short-yardage period that you guys were all there, too, for."
Q: What player group or position group do you feel would have the most to gain heading into this first preseason matchup?
"I think there's a lot of young players on our team trying to find their footing within the team. Part of the great thing about this 2025 team in particular with the young guys, is they have the drive, the will and the mindset to find a place on the team. First opportunity to introduce yourself, establish yourself as a Dolphin and then in the vein of what you have to do at an expert level continually is assess and reapply and get better at the things you didn't do and be dependable in all those things. In that, there's a lot of young players on both lines that I'm excited about. There is a plethora of really – we have them distributed throughout the whole team – I'm excited for first- and second-year players pretty much across the board on this team for Week 1 of the preseason because, in particular, there needs to be and will be guys that grow from Game 1 to Game 3 and this team is depending on that growth so you get that starting point of that game-like experience and you find out so much more about people based on you have extensive practice relationship with them and this is the first time it's the game. So my eyes are on the first- and second-year players across the board at every position, really."
Q: I wanted to ask you, what do you think you learned about your team in the first week in pads?
"There was some residual wins based upon the blessing of the environment. I feel like the humidity was a great extra challenge beyond the opposing side of the football in all three phases really and you get to push guys as you progress and get more and more reps and you want to see them respond. So basically we went through the process of no pads and developed a an energy about our football. You put pads on, it's physical – that takes a cost – and maybe you're not as vibrant or your energy isn't as good when you first get them on. You want to see them respond to that energy loss with extra energy the next day. Well, we've gotten through that. Yesterday was our longest, hardest, most energetic practice. That's what I want to see, is that growth of energy, how we play football, adjusting to pad level and physicality and still bringing our strain to finish blocks not two yards down the field, but four and for us collectively to not see… a great example is a long run. If the offense breaks a long run, defensively, I want to see the strain from the collective that makes it – a 40-yard run could be a highlight on the defense's worst play – I want to see guys strain with pads and make people earn everything in both phases. So we have started that development. Yesterday, I thought the tone was right. We finally captured it – what does that mean? The tone was right yesterday in a hard practice and they have to match it today so you can create something, a style of play that's unique to your own team."
Q: What are the things you have seen come to fruition for LB Willie Gay Jr. this camp?
"First of all he's magnetic. You can feel his presence inside the building and he was a fast friend for a lot of the guys in the locker room. But what has jumped off is his energy isn't a one-off thing. He brings that every day. It's a pillar of who he is as a person as we really get to know him, so what does that mean? Any time there's a tip or an overthrow, he's a potential takeaway guy. He is around the ball and he is challenging both the people in his position group and the offense. I think he's a guy that has shown up every day and I think that's who he is and we're happy to have him on the team."
Q: Who is the orange jersey today?
"What does the weather say? Is there a 'Storm'? Or is it clear skies? Maybe it can be clear skies and a 'Storm' at the same time."
Q: Are you guys going to sign any of the offensive lineman who worked out yesterday and No. 2, are you comfortable with your current group of backup offensive linemen or is that a work in progress?
"We brought in some depth, competition. I'm happy to a point realistically with all of our depth; however you can see on the horizon there's a couple guys that have the opportunity to step in. Generally, when you bring somebody in, you're challenging the group. They know that. But overall I really would prefer to not speak on my feelings on the whole offensive group. I like the way they're working in the shadows. They're focused on the right stuff and in the group there's been tremendous development. I think you guys have seen some of it, but I'd rather speak with their play and not roses and dandelions."
Q: And of the five who came in yesterday are any signing at this point with you guys?
"You might have a signing here shortly as we negotiate through all the information pretty soon probably."
Q: I know it's 10 days into camp or so, but what has been the benefit for Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver in his second year calling this defense for both him and that side of the football?
"We talk about it almost every day, but he's really finding – in Year 2 the trust of your assistants to carry messages so that you can carry more global messages – we've had some meetings the last couple afternoons that have been really, really good establishing understanding for what we do and while we compete and progress every day. 'Weave' (Anthony Weaver) did a phenomenal job last year, but the advantages of Year 2, he's fully taking advantage of, for sure, and really it's just the collective group. The defensive coaching staff is doing a great job connecting to the players, developing guys, investing in them daily and challenging them."
Q: Is there any update on S Ifeatu Melifwonu?
"Breaking news, you'll see him at practice today. So that was a very on-point question there."
Q: In some of the Dolphins media that was released yesterday we saw WR Tyreek Hill kind of bigging up CB Storm Duck after Tyreek made a play on him. What sort of confidence does that instill in Storm when you have one of the best receivers in the league, telling you, "don't worry about me beating you, like it happens"?
"(Jaylen) Waddle and 'Reek' (Tyreek Hill) recognize from an authentic perspective some real game in Storm and I think it's easy to project if I'm Storm Duck that, don't be a fool, that should give you some confidence. We were talking about it yesterday specifically with some nuances of his game. He's super consistent, really physical for an athletic corner and doesn't shy away from any sort of re-route contact, is actually a force that way and is competitive each and every day. It tells me a lot. You gather a lot of information sometimes just listening and they invest time into Storm because they believe in Storm and know he can help us win."
Q: You have to learn first to follow before you lead. I'm curious during your time at Atlanta and San Francisco, what were some things that you learned during those preseason years leading up to the Super Bowl appearances that you emphasized this year?
"That's a great question. It kind of sets your vision for how things are supposed to be in this time. Particularly it's impossible for me to not reflect on the most successful, the longest journey teams and identify what happens in camp. It's pretty consistent. The teams that go the furthest are really able to block out noise at all levels – both external and internal and worry about their game and collectively sacrifice and play for each other. And as simple as that sounds – and it's all good in theory – noise is the 'opponent B' every week, so like in the offseason you can't be focused on two things at once. The team hasn't, but then you go into training camp and it's a new obstacle because you're against the season. It's the nature of the NFL, but I think trying to capture that each and every day without relent, what we're doing here, there is absolute connectivity to those teams in my mind as I see how you approach this time. This is where your foundation is built for your game and your technique and fundamentals, if approached right, can be a tool, an advantage – a competitive advantage – against every opponent the rest of the season. So what if you could play every opponent at once by full commitment to your technique and fundamentals that's what happens on those teams. Each and every day, we're not guaranteed to get. Guys have to motivate, guys have to motivate themselves. It's all about the days dudes rising to the occasion on the days you don't feel like it. Those are the keys, so each and every day and how we stack our work and build our game – first to be joint practice ready, then preseason ready, then regular season ready – you don't waste a moment or you'll have an experience that will be regrettable."
