5 Dolphins on offense to watch in the preseason opener vs. Atlanta

The Miami Dolphins are practicing hard and the preseason-opener is almost here. Come Friday night, Mike McDaniel and Co. will be hosting the Atlanta Falcons for what should be a fun showdown.

Miami fans have a lot to look forward to despite the fact that this game is nothing more than an exhibition. Players will begin showcasing what they can do against competition that is not their own teammates. Practices will typically get more interesting as well, but when the lights at Hard Rock Stadium come on, the real fun begins.

The Dolphins have plenty of fringe players hoping to make the roster, but this game will also showcase talent that is already guaranteed to make the final 53. Here is a look at five of the players fans should be excited to see come Friday, with us focusing on the offensive side of the ball:

Jaylen Wright

Is there anyone on the football field who could be more exciting than Jaylen Wright? We’re not talking about Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, or Jaylen Waddle. We’re talking about players who might actually participate in a preseason game! Wright has the explosive twitch the Dolphins love, and he will get to showcase his ability in Week 1 of preseason action. The Dolphins traded up for Wright, andMcDaniel was ecstatic when they did.

Wright should see considerable time on the field as Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane will likely sit out or play only a handful of snaps. Preseason will be for guys like Wright, Salvon Ahmed, Jeff Wilson Jr. and Chris Brooks. This is the camp battle we have been waiting to see, and on Friday, we will get to see who can separate themselves for what will likely be only two slots.

Jody Fortson

Jody Fortson was a forgotten man in Kansas City, and now he is hoping to stick with the Dolphins, who need quality depth at the position. This is a battle for a roster spot without question, as Fortson will have to compete against Tanner Conner, Hayden Rucci and Julian Hill.

The best part about this is only two players at the most will make this year’s roster at the position. The Dolphins could carry three TEs into the season or max the position at four, but there are no guarantees and any of them could fill the two spots behind Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe.

Fortson should see a lot of playing time in preseason and he will split reps with the other two TEs as the games unfold. Each player could see reps with the starting units, really the second-team players, as well as the deeper roster given the fact that they all will rotate.

As far as Fortson goes, he has had a decent camp, but the Dolphins also like what they saw last season in Hill, and Rucci has a lot to offer as well. Whoever does not make the team is a candidate for the practice squad.

Malik Washington

There has been a lot of hype surrounding Malik Washington since he was drafted. Thus far in camp, there hasn’t been much that has stood out as being special. That is to be understood, given the fact that learning to play wide receiver in the NFL isn’t always easy.

Washington has been heralded as a bonafide steal, but he has to make the roster first. The competition will make his job that much harder. He will battle Erik Ezukanma if he plays, which seems doubtful as he deals with an injury. He will also battle River Cracraft, who has looked consistently good in camp so far. Newcomer Willie Snead will also be in the mix, as well as Anthony Schwartz, who should see time on kickoffs.

Washington, however, will also see plenty of reps on Friday night, and if he gets on the field, he needs to make the most of his opportunities. He has a lot of talent, and if he had gone to a bigger school, he would have been drafted in the first three rounds. He is in the NFL now, and he needs to step up.

Mike White and Skylar Thompson

Tagovailoa will not play on Friday, not even a single snap. At least he shouldn’t. The Dolphins have far too much invested in him to play him in a preseason game. This week will be the Mike White and Skylar Thompson show, and it is important because one of these two will not initially make the 53-man roster, but instead will be relegated to the practice squad.

White seems like the natural backup for Tagovailoa, but Thompson has playoff experience that White does not. This is good competition, and their stats will be scrutinized. While Thompson may have less experience in the regular season, White will save more if he is released. The Dolphins don’t need the cap space, but money could be a factor if all things are equal.

Regardless, the competition between Thompson and White will be intriguing for all three preseason games. Miami released fourth-string quarterback Gavin Hardison ahead of camp, so this will be a two-man show for most of the preseason.