Dolphins, Bears finish in 24-24 tie in the preseason
Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had an efficient start to the preseason Sunday and the Miami Dolphins and the Bears finished in a 24-24 tie in Ben Johnson’s Chicago coaching debut.
Playing in a preseason opener for the first time since 2021, Tagovailoa completed 5 of 6 for 27 yards in a 15-play drive against Bears backups, but the Dolphins failed to score on their first drive because of a Bears goal-line stand.
Running back Jaylen Wright was stuffed by Bears linebacker Noah Sewell on fourth-and-goal from the 1. He later scored on a 7-yard run late in the first half.
Miami backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers directed three touchdown drives and Jason Sanders made a 56-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Sanders' kick with 6:22 remaining tied the game at 24 and the Dolphins defense turned back a late Bears scoring drive at the Miami 41.
Ewers, who went 5 of 18 for 91 yards, completed a 21-yard pass to Alexander Mattison on an eight-play, 41-yard drive in the fourth quarter, leading to a 1-yard TD score by rookie running back Ollie Gordon with 11:48 remaining for a 21-17 Miami lead.
Wilson replaced Tagovailoa after the goal-line stand and completed 5 of 9 for 96 yards. He hit a 35-yard pass to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and set up the Dolphins first score, then a 34-yard completion to Tahj Washington to set up the second TD.
Wilson, signed as a free agent after three seasons with the Jets and one in Denver, is looking to revive a career that started when he was the second overall pick of the 2021 draft.
Ben Johnson’s debut
Johnson, the AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year as Detroit’s offensive coordinator last season, decided to sit quarterback Caleb Williams and all the other starters except left tackle Braxton Jones. Jones is in a starting competition with rookie Ozzy Trapilo.
Johnson is attempting to help turn around a franchise with a long history of poor quarterback play and struggling offense. However, it was his team’s defense that stood out in his first preseason game as they sacked Miami’s Wilson and Ewers six times, including three by defensive end Austin Booker. One was a strip-sack at the 3-yard line to set up Case Keenum's third-quarter TD pass to rookie Deion Hankins for a 17-14 Chicago lead.
Kicking game
Bears kicker Cairo Santos has roster competition from former Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim. However, it was Santos connecting from long distance in this game as he hit a 57-yarder to close the first half and draw the Bears within 14-10.
Santos’ career long in the regular season is 55 yards, made in 2020.
Injuries
Miami running back Alexander Mattison left the game with a knee injury after being tackled on a 21-yard pass play and did not return.
Bears rookie safety Major Burns suffered a knee injury and left the game in the first half. He didn’t return. Running back Travis Homer (calf) and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga (shoulder) also left the game and did not return.
Up next
Dolphins: Travel to Detroit for two joint practices and a preseason game Aug. 16 game against the Lions.
Bears: Hold a joint practice with Buffalo before hosting the Bills on Sunday.
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