Three Miami Dolphins training camp standouts who generated big buzz in August but haven’t lived up to the hype in 2025
The steak doesn’t always match the sizzle. It hasn’t for these three Dolphins.
There’s a quote from Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier from this August that serves as quite telling for where this Dolphins team currently finds themselves. Sitting at 1-5, Miami’s season thus far has been something more closely resembling a disaster as compared to a push back against the narratives that this iteration of the organization has run its course.
“At the end of the day, I don’t really judge anything for myself or what it is; it’s about the team and the organization. So we feel good about the players here and the coaching staff and this roster helping us win games in 2025,” said Grier.
That hasn’t happened yet. And some of the areas in which this team may have been feeling good in August haven’t materialized on Sundays in-season. Where are the most notable drops? Here are three training camp and preseason darlings who have not lived up to their preseason buzz this summer.
Three Miami Dolphins training camp darlings who have not lived up to expectations and buzz in 2025
LB Willie Gay Jr.
Where, oh where has Willie Gay gone?! This was the talk of training camp. His high energy approach and an ability to make splash plays each and every day had Gay on the cusp of training camp legend status in Miami. But that hasn’t translated to in-game opportunities, even amid injuries at linebacker this past week as Tyrel Dodson was in concussion protocol.
Linebackers coach Joe Barry disclosed that Gay is the backup WILL linebacker and DIME backer behind Jordyn Brooks, which does create some headaches for playing time opportunities. But defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was saying as early as Week 2 that they needed to find ways to get Gay on the field.
He’s played 17 defensive snaps in 6 games.
Dolphins linebacker Willie Gay Jr. defensive snaps by week in 2025
- Week 2: 3 snaps
- Week 3: 8 snaps
- Week 4: 3 snaps
- Week 5: 3 snaps
- Weeks 1 & 6: 0 snaps
RB Ollie Gordon II
Smash mouth football was set to come to Miami for all of five minutes this August with Ollie Gordon II as the starring centerpiece. And then the regular season games started. Gordon has 6 touches for 0 yards in the last two weeks combined — in part because of some miscommunications up front, in part because of some potential misreads by the rookie back and in part because he’s not being asked to run downhill. There is plenty of blame to go around on this one.
But it is a frustrating development for a team that at times is so invested in De’Von Achane that they’re willing to roll into games on Sundays with two active running backs dressed for game day. And Gordon II, being the second of only two, is barely getting any play.
So much for something new.
WR Tahj Washington
With the injury of Tyreek Hill, it would be easy to assume that some snaps and opportunities were going to open up in Miami’s wide receiver ro0m. A twitchy separator like Washington generated some buzz throughout the preseason for Miami, earning elevated snaps and logging significant targets in the preseason amid Hill’s absence for a minor injury at the time.
He’s played three offensive snaps this season, all against the Carolina Panthers. There’s simply not been opportunities as Miami’s offense has evolved into using some heavier personnel packages without Hill.
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