Back in 2024, one of the biggest storylines heading into Dolphins camp was whether Aaron Brewer and Tua Tagovailoa could get on the same page – literally at the snap. Brewer, newly signed from Tennessee, had the athleticism Miami needed in its wide-zone offense. “We’re a fast team, and so I fit that description,” Brewer said during the 2024 training camp. But the transition wasn’t seamless. Bad snaps. Mistimed exchanges. And a few too many ‘here we go again’ moments after the Connor Williams experiment.

But here’s what made it work: they stuck with it. Brewer and Tua worked through the hiccups, and when the season started, things clicked. Not only did Brewer settle in, but he went on to start all 17 games and play every offensive snap in 2024. Not one. That’s rare in Miami, where durability usually packs up by Week 8. So when Brewer showed up to training camp not dressed for back-to-back practices, alarm bells went off. But Mike McDaniel quickly grabbed the extinguisher.

The Dolphins’ head coach confirmed Brewer is dealing with a lower extremity soft tissue issue – annoying, but not panic-worthy. “Not overly concerned,” McDaniel said, brushing it off with a classic deadpan. “You should see him sooner rather than later — fact.” But here’s the twist: Brewer wasn’t even placed on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Why? Because Miami still wants him snapping to Tua. That’s right – he’s not in full gear, but he’s still getting those precious practice reps.

Through two sessions, Brewer has been seen tossing footballs in casual clothes like the world’s most athletic team manager. It’s all about continuity. With rookies Patrick Paul and Jonah Savaiinaea, plus veteran James Daniels stepping into starting roles, Brewer’s chemistry with Tua Tagovailoa is the glue. Even if that glue’s walking around in sneakers.

And Brewer has been that stabilizer. He’s not just fast for his size – 6-foot-1, 295 pounds – but he fits McDaniel’s scheme like a glove. He finished 2024 ranked 8th among all centers in PFF’s overall grades, with top-15 marks in both pass protection and run blocking. That’s not easy to find, especially for a player who went undrafted just five years ago.

Tua Tagovailoa may be the face of the franchise, but Brewer is the guy quietly touching the ball on every single offensive play. And after all the misfires early in 2024, the Dolphins aren’t taking any chances with timing – not even in late July. They don’t need Brewer in pads right now. They just need him snapping to Tua, even though Tua’s contract is a big question mark for the organization entering 2026. The rest can wait. But while Brewer’s story is about maintenance, Jaelan Phillips is trying to hit the reset button. Again.

Jaelan Phillips sheds the injury bug again

The former first-rounder has now battled both an Achilles tear (2023) and an ACL tear (2024), making him the Dolphins’ unofficial rehab MVP. But this time? He’s optimistic. He told reporters that he’s “feeling good” and “this rehab was a lot easier than the Achilles injury he suffered in 2023.”

That’s good news for Miami’s pass rush, which is finally getting its pieces back. Phillips and Bradley Chubb are both set to return this summer. Add second-year riser Chop Robinson and double-digit sack machine Zach Sieler to the mix, and the Dolphins might have one of the deepest D-lines in football – if they stay healthy. Plus, it might ease some pressure off McDaniel.

McDaniel will ease both Chubb and Phillips in, with limited snaps and lots of caution early in camp. But if Phillips looks anything like he did in 2022 – when he played all 17 games and logged seven sacks – Miami’s defense could quietly become one of the league’s most dangerous fronts. Especially if the offense figures out how to keep Tua upright for more than 12 games.