• Tua Tagovailoa performed well, leading a long drive and showing readiness for the season.
• Zach Wilson had an inconsistent performance, missing throws but also making some key plays.
• Special teams excelled under new coordinator Craig Aukerman, with strong returns and coverage.

Plenty to correct.

But more to build upon.

That’s what Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel faces after a 24-24 tie in the preseason opener against the host Chicago Bears.

In the first extended test for a Dolphins team trying to reinvent itself after going 8-9 in 2024, McDaniel had to like what he saw from starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who ran the offense with precision; top draft picks Kenneth Grant and Jonah Savaiinaea at the line of scrimmage; and from the revamped special teams.

To no one’s surprise, backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and rookie Quinn Ewers had uneven performances.

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Defensively, players including linebacker Grayson Murphy, cornerback Jack Jones and tackle Matt Dickerson showed in this outing the same things they’ve shown on the practice field in Miami Gardens. Namely, that they can make plays.

More: Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel plays starters in preseason opener; sends right message | Schad

Here are the takeaways:

How QBs Tua Tagovailoa, Zach Wilson looked

Tagovailoa looked like he’s ready for the season to start tomorrow.

That’s the short (and most important) takeaway from QB1, who smoothly moved the team in pressure situations to come within a yard of a touchdown. The Dolphins hogged the ball for nearly 10 minutes on the drive.

His backup, Wilson, had an uneven day, He holds the ball far too long. He missed throws, none worse than a wide-open tight end Tanner Conner, who could have walked in for a touchdown. He was lucky at least one throw wasn’t picked off.

But: Wilson did inspire confidence by bouncing back after bad plays, such as hitting Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for 35 yards and Erik Ezukanma for 12 to set up Jaylen Wright’s touchdown. McDaniel will continue to chip away at helping Wilson eliminate the bad plays.

The third QB, Ewers, looked like a rookie making his NFL debut. Lowlight: a fumble that gave Chicago the ball on Miami’s 3.

Will Malik Washington be WR3?

The third receiver position is still TBA.

Malik Washington made the most of his opportunities.

McDaniel went for it on fourth-and-3 from his own 49 to start the game. Tagovailoa turned to Washington, who moved the chains with a 6-yard gain. A few plays later, Tagovailoa needed to convert a third-and-4 and looked to Washington again, picking up 9 yards.

Washington or Westbrook-Ikhine are likely to be the third option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who did not dress for the preseason opener.

Power run game still needs work

One of the priorities for the 2025 Dolphins was improvement with the inside rushing attack, especially on short-yardage situations.

It still needs work.

The Dolphins opened with five runs in short-yardage situations.

Three resulted in no gain.

In all, the Dolphins netted 2 yards on those plays.

At least one such run was a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Alexander Mattison. Until then, Wright had three tries netting 1 yard and Mattison had a no-gain. All were runs between the tackles.

Having said that, the interior offensive line — especially Savaiinaea — did a fine job moving people to allow a 7-yard TD run by Wright in the second quarter.

And in the fourth quarter, Mattison and rookie Ollie Gordon II combined to provide Miami’s second TD, an encouraging 1-yard plunge by Gordon.

Miami’s special teams start strong under Craig Aukerman

The Dolphins’ special teams, heavily criticized under Danny Crossman, are now under the direction of coordinator Craig Aukerman.

The unit got off to a good start, with Jason Sanders nailing the landing zone on the Bears’ 4 with the opening kickoff, which pinned the Bears on their own 25. Both of Chicago’s first two possessions were three-and-outs, which is where Malik Washington and Tahj Washington took over.

Malik had a 19-yard punt return. Tahj added a 16-yarder.

The best was still to come.

After Chicago scored a touchdown to tie it at 7, Dee Eskridge returned a kickoff 41 yards.

Sanders made a 56-yarder in the fourth quarter.

All that, plus solid kick/punt coverage.

This and that …

During a sideline interview with CBS-Channel 4’s Mike Cugno, DT Zach Sieler credited Calais Campbell with helping him develop further as a team leader. Campbell is now with the Arizona Cardinals, but during his lone season in Miami, Campbell left such an impression that Sieler called him “one of the best leaders in all of football.” … Illegal procedure penalty goes to whoever punched up a commercial during a Dolphins preseason telecast touting “the official mover of your Tampa Bay Buccaneers.” … Was defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver showing off with that tight coaching shirt? His guns made Ed Hochuli look (almost) puny. … Derrick McClendon, Storm Duck and Zeek Biggers made red-zone plays before Patrick McMorris conceded a fourth-down touchdown reception. McMorris came back by taking advantage of a pass tipped by Ethan Bonner to make an interception (good thing the Dolphins ran a tip drill in practice last week). Biggers and DT Matt Dickerson have flashed in camp and it showed vs. the Bears. … Grant, Miami’s first-round pick, was among the first-half tackle leaders with four. … Jones overcame a pass interference penalty that nullified his interception by saving a touchdown with a pass break-up.