For the second time in his career, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa played in the Miami Dolphins’ preseason opener on Sunday. The former Alabama All-American handled the first possession as the Dolphins and the Chicago Bears played to a 24-24 tie.
Tagovailoa completed 5-of-6 passes for 27 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Tagovailoa hadn’t appeared in Miami’s first preseason game since 2021.
“First off, I would say it’s important for any of the starters to get some play time before the actual season starts,” Tagovailoa said. “I would say for me, it wasn’t more important as it was for the next guy to be out there. Just so we can get those game-like reps, work on the timing, work on the noise, work on the focus, just work on every aspect of our game outside of just what that play entails. And I thought that was really good. It forced us to communicate a little more.
“And also in the huddle, too, clock management. You got that for another opportunity for an away game. Clock management, you try to simulate as best as you can a real atmosphere-type game, although the crowd wasn’t really getting into it on third downs and fourth downs, but you want to try to do your best when you do have that chance.”
After an illegal-formation penalty on their first snap of the preseason, the Dolphins moved from their 37-yard line to the Chicago 1 in 13 plays, including two third-down completions and one fourth-down completion by Tagovailoa for first downs.
But on third-and-goal at the 1, Miami running back Jaylen Wright was stopped for no gain, then dropped for a 3-yard loss on fourth down.
“It was not good enough at the end,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. “Very good all the way up until then.”
Tagovailoa was on the field with Miami’s projected starting offense except for the Dolphins’ top two wide receivers – Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who were a dinged up and did not play on Sunday.
“I’d rather have them for our season than something happening to them in preseason,” Tagovailoa said.
Cairo Santos made a 57-yard field goal on the final snap of the first half, but Chicago passed up a 54-yard field-goal attempt with 1:54 to play for a fourth-and-3 snap. The Bears didn’t convert, followed by fourth-down failures by Miami at the Chicago 45 with 31 seconds left and the Bears at the Dolphins 46 with 10 seconds remaining, leading to the tie. The NFL does not use overtime in the preseason.
In the concluding game of Week 1 of the NFL’s 2025 preseason schedule, the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-13 on Sunday.
While Los Angeles did not play its No. 1 QB, Justin Herbert, New Orleans played the three quarterbacks vying to become the Saints’ starter.
Spencer Rattler completed 7-of-11 passes for 53 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions, Tyler Shough completed 15-of-22 passes for 165 yards with one touchdown and one interception and Jake Haener completed 5-of-8 passes for 41 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. Rattler ran for 22 yards on three carries, Shough had a 3-yard run and Haener had a 7-yard run.
New Orleans scored 10 points with Shough, who also threw a pick-six, and three with Haener.
In addition to Tagovailoa, 14 players from Alabama high schools and colleges got on the field in Sunday’s preseason games:
Miami Dolphins 24, Chicago Bears 24
Dolphins linebacker Eugene Asante (Auburn) made four tackles on defense and one tackle on special teams in his first appearance in a Miami uniform. Asante joined the Dolphins as an undrafted rookie in May.
Dolphins linebacker K.J. Britt (Oxford) tied for the team lead with five tackles on defense. He also had one tackle on special teams and broke up a pass in his first appearance for Miami after joining the team in free agency during the offseason.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (Alabama) started at safety for the Dolphins. Fitzpatrick did not record any stats.
Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (West Alabama) did not play.
Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (Alabama) did not play.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal carries the football during an NFL preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.
Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal carries the football during an NFL preseason game against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.(AP Photo/Jayne Kamin- Oncea)
Los Angeles Chargers 27, New Orleans Saints 13
Chargers center Bradley Bozeman (Handley, Alabama) did not play.
Chargers defensive back Trikweze Bridges (Lanett) made five tackles.
Saints punter James Burnip (Alabama) averaged 33.7 yards on three punts, with no return yards. Burnip had a 38-yard punt that was muffed at the Los Angeles 11-yard line and recovered by New Orleans at the Chargers 17, a 25-yarder for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 15 and a 38-yarder for a fair catch at the Los Angeles 24. Burnip made his first appearance in a New Orleans uniform after joining the Saints as an undrafted rookie in May.
Chargers defensive lineman Justin Eboigbe (Alabama) recovered a fumble by New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler at the Saints 33-yard line on the first play of the second quarter. Los Angeles turned the takeaway into a field goal for a 3-0 lead.
Da’Shawn Hand (Alabama) started at defensive end for the Chargers. Hand recorded one quarterback hit.
Chargers long snapper Josh Harris (Auburn) handled the snaps on six punts, two field-goal attempts and one extra point.
Chargers running back Najee Harris (Alabama) did not play.
Saints running back Velus Jones Jr. (Saraland) had four receptions for 16 yards, one rushing attempt that netted minus-1 yard, two kickoff returns for 73 yards, including a 46-yarder and one special-teams tackle.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith (Auburn) started at wide receiver for the Chargers. Lambert-Smith was targeted twice but did not have a reception.
Ga’Quincy “Kool-Aid” McKinstry (Pinson Valley, Alabama) started at cornerback for the Saints. McKinstry did not record any stats.
Chargers cornerback Jordan Oladokun (Samford) made two tackles.
Chargers punter JK Scott (Alabama) averaged 48.3 yards on six punts, with a 44.2-yard net. Scott had a 33-yard punt for a fair catch at the New Orleans 9-yard line, a 56-yarder returned 2 yards to the New Orleans 38, a 58-yarder returned 6 yards to the New Orleans 39, a 47-yarder returned 5 yards to the New Orleans 38, a 55-yarder returned 12 yards to the New Orleans 27 and a 41-yarder downed at the New Orleans 4.
Kimani Vidal (Troy) started at running back for the Chargers. Vidal ran for 16 yards on six carries and returned a kickoff 12 yards.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at@AMarkG1.
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