It’s been a sloppy first half for both the Dolphins and Rams, but Miami holds a 10-6 lead over Los Angeles at halftime.
The Dolphins scored early on rookie receiver Malik Washington’s 18-yard rushing touchdown to cap the opening drive. Then Jason Sanders hit a 50-yard field goal early in the second quarter to extend the lead to 10-0.
That came off of Matthew Stafford’s first-quarter interception, which came when Calais Campbell got his hand on the ball at the line.
Then there were three turnovers in quick success in the second quarter. First, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa tossed an interception to linebacker Christian Rozeboom, with Los Angeles starting its drive at the Miami 43. But on the Rams’ first play, running back Kyren Williams fumbled with Kendall Fuller picking up the loose ball for another turnover.
But the Rams got it back when rookie edge rusher Jared Verse strip-sacked Tagovailoa on third-and-13 and recovered the fumble himself.
That set up Los Angeles at Miami’s 36-yard line with its best chance to score.
The Rams moved the chains with a 14-yard pass to Cooper Kupp, but Matthew Stafford’s third-down pass to Davis Allen was just out of reach. Los Angeles settled for a 34-yard field goal to make the score 10-3 with 5:46 left in the second quarter.
Los Angeles had a chance for a two-minute drive and got going well. But a strip-sack by Quinton Bell derailed the possession, even with Los Angeles recovering the loose ball. On second-and-19 with 19 seconds left, Stafford hit Puka Nacua for a 16-yard gain, spiking it with three seconds on the clock. Joshua Karty’s 55-yard attempt was good, putting Los Angeles down by four at the break.
Tagovailoa finished the first half 9-of-15 for 87 yards with an interception and a lost fumble. Officially he was hit only twice, but Los Angeles’ defensive pressure has been constant.
De’Von Achane has six carries for 23 yards. Jaylen Waddle leads with two catches for 55 yards while Tyreek Hill has one catch for 12 yards and two carries for 11 yards.
Stafford is 15-of-21 for 97 yards with an interception. Williams has six carries for 25 yards. Nacua has four catches for 33 yards. Kupp has three receptions for 24 yards.
The Rams will receive the second-half kickoff with a chance to double up and take the lead.
The Dolphins brought out a little trickery early on in their Monday night matchup with the Rams, scoring a touchdown to take a 7-0 lead.
On Miami’s first play in the red zone, the club faked a handoff and then gave the ball to rookie receiver Malik Washington for an 18-yard score.
The Dolphins started with a 19-yard pass from Tua Tagovailoa to Jaylen Waddle. But Byron Young tackled De’Von Achane for a 5-yard loss on a swing pass on the next play, putting Miami behind the chains.
But on third-and-13, Tagovailoa evaded the rush in the pocket and found a wide-open Jaylen Waddle down the left side for a 36-yard gain down to Los Angeles’ 18-yard line.
The next play, Washington took the end around for a touchdown, giving Miami an early lead.
It was the first touchdown of Washington’s young career on just his fifth NFL touch.
After his third diagnosed concussion in five seasons, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa heard the calls for him to retire. Tagovailoa said he never considered it, because no doctor recommended it.
“If they would have told me that I couldn’t play, I would have definitely taken that into consideration, but there were no talks like that,” Tagovailoa told Jeff Darlington of ESPN, via Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post. “It never stuck in my mind that I was ever thinking of retiring.”
After a concussion in Week 2, Tagovailoa missed four games — and five weeks — before returning to the field. Doctors diagnosed him with two concussions in 2022 and a third hit to the head led the NFL to alter its concussion protocol after he was allowed to stay in the game.
“What I don’t want to be known for is the poster boy for concussions. That’s for sure,” Tagovailoa told Darlington.
Tagovailoa said his personal goal for the rest of the season is to “stay healthy.”
The Dolphins (2-6) are trying to break a three-game losing streak. Tagovailoa returned last week and threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns last week, but the Dolphins fell to the Bills.
The Dolphins will have star receiver Tyreek Hill when they play the Rams tonight.
Hill is officially active after he was questionable for the Week 10 contest with a wrist injury.
Lisa Salters of ESPN reported on Monday that Hill underwent an MRI that showed a torn ligament in his wrist. Hill noted that he was dealing with a wrist issue during training camp that was aggravated during his detainment by police before Miami’s season opener on Sept. 8.
However, Hill was just added to the injury report with a wrist issue on Friday. He did not practice on Friday or Saturday.
In eight games this season, Hill has 34 receptions for 446 yards with one touchdown. He’s also taken five carries for 36 yards.
Safety Jevon Holland (hand/knee) is also active for Miami after he was listed as questionable for the contest. He missed last week’s loss to the Bills and was a limited participant on Friday and Saturday.
The Dolphins’ inactives are running back Jeff Wilson, cornerback Ethan Bonner, fullback Alec Ingold, cornerback Storm Duck, linebacker Mohamed Kamara, offensive lineman Andrew Meyer, and receiver Dee Eskridge.
For the Rams, offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Steve Avila are active after they were activated to the 53-man roster off of injured reserve earlier on Monday. Jackson has been out since Week 2 and Avila since Week 1.
Los Angeles’ inactives are quarterback Stetson Bennett, running back Cody Schrader, offensive lineman Dylan McMahon, offensive lineman Rob Havenstein, defensive lineman Neville Gallimore, and defensive lineman Desjuan Johnson.
The Dolphins made a number of roster moves ahead of Monday night’s game against the Rams.
They announced that they have activated wide receiver River Cracraft off of injured reserve, signed defensive tackle Neil Farrell off of their practice squad and elevated long snapper Tucker Addington and tackle Jackson Carman from the practice squad on a temporary basis. Tackle Austin Jackson went on injured reserve in a corresponding move.
Cracraft has missed the entire regular season with a shoulder injury. He had nine catches for 121 yards and a touchdown for the Dolphins last season.
Jackson started eight games at right tackle, but will miss at least the next four with a knee injury.
Farrell has appeared in two games this season and he recorded one tackle. Addington and Carman will be making theirs first appearances for the Dolphins on Monday night.
