MIAMI GARDENS - The only thing Jaylen Wright did wrong in the second quarter of the Miami Dolphins' preseason game on Friday night was throw the football into the stands.
It was Wright's first NFL touchdown, after all.
"I regret it now," Wright said, later. "They tried to find it. I mean, I think I kind of threw it high."
He'll surely have a chance to redeem that decision.
The final score here doesn't matter. Meaningless.
(For the record, Dolphins 20, Falcons 13).
A more interesting pair of numbers: the Dolphins went without 22 of 22 projected starters in their preseason opener with the Falcons.
This has to be the final season the NFL has three preseason games, doesn't it?
Well, on a night in which even rookie Chop Robinson didn't play, the sparse crowd at the Rock was looking for something - anything - to cheer about.
And they got it in the second quarter.
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Jaylen Wright electrifying for Miami Dolphins
The fourth-round rookie from Tennessee - how did Wright slip to the fourth round, anyway? - carried the ball three straight times.
On the sideline, coach Mike McDaniel could be seen grinning.
Oh, Wright is quick and fast, tough and strong.
"Violent runner," Tennessee offensive coordinator Joey Halzle told me earlier this offseason.
After his first pro game, Wright described himself as "explosive" and "fast" and "elusive" and that if he gets into the open field, "it's over with."
Yeah, that's all about right.
On this drive, it was Wright left for two yards. It was Wright left for nine yards and a first down.
It was Wright again, left, for 10 yards, and yet another... Miami... Dolphins... first down.
Speed. Strength. Burst. Broke a couple of tackles.
Oh, there was a palpable buzz at Hard Rock Stadium.
For a moment, it felt electric. Like Wright.
Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill Terron Armstead don't play for Dolphins
Among the players who did not play on this night: Tua Tagovailoa, Raheem Mostert, De'Von Achane, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios and, oh, yeah, offensive linemen Terron Armstead, Rob Jones, Aaron Brewer, Liam Eichenberg, Austin Jackson and Kendall Lamm.
Is that all?
But here's the thing: Wright did his thing without those starter-types.
Wright is able to make something from nothing, which is a quality that will be valued on this Dolphins team that is always gong to be blazing, but want to be both blazing and bullies in 2024.
"I’m the type of running back that doesn’t do a lot of dancing, a lot of cutting and stuff," Wright told us this spring. "I’m one cut and go."
And perhaps that's why McDaniel was grinning. It is so clear that Wright - young legs without a ton of tread in college, it should be noted - is a perfect fit for McDaniel's zone scheme offense.
Like Terrell Davis. One cut and go.
Like Raheem Mostert at his best.
And when needed - the turbo-boost is there.
In the third quarter, Wright took a screen behind the line of scrimmage, juggled it a bit, but then took off for the left edge, showing of the staggering 4.38 40-yard dash.
He turned nothing into... a 14-yard gain and a third-down conversion.
Wright has to be ready to play right away. De'Von Achane got a chance to play right away last season. But then he got hurt. And Mostert was incredible. When he wasn't hurt.
Running backs get hurt.
Miami's stable is deep and talented.
It would be hard to find an NFL offense with more combined talent among receivers and running backs.
And McDaniel is willing to play a rookie running back, provided he knows what can be a bit of a complicated scheme.
On this night, there was some interest in monitoring the Dolphins' backup quarterback competition between Mike White and Skylar Thompson. Not so good on that front, by the way.
On this night, upstart corner Ethan Bonner was beaten once, but made two key plays in coverage on third down.
And on this night, rookie Patrick Paul, defensive back Siran Neal, tight end Tanner Conner and receiver Malik Washington all had some good moments.
But let's be honest. This game was a bit dull.
Except when rookie Jaylen Wright touched the ball.
That was anything but dull.
Wright scored a 6-yard touchdown in the second quarter, setting up Miami's 17-10 lead.
Right up the middle.
"Didn't blink," Miami coach Mike McDaniel told CBS of his rookies.
And then Wright did everything, well, right, except... well, you know.
Next time, rook, hold onto that football.
"I'm keeping the ball for sure," he said.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL atThe Palm Beach Post. You can reach him atjschad@pbpost.comand follow him onInstagramand on X@schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weeklyDolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our workby subscribing today.
