The Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears opened their preseason schedules Sunday with a competitive back-and-forth that ended in a 24-24 tie at Soldier Field, a result that neither side would have preferred but one that provided plenty of early-season storylines.
For Miami, the spotlight was on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who made his first preseason opener appearance since 2021. The Dolphins starter played just one series but was sharp, completing 5 of 6 passes for 27 yards on a 15-play opening drive. That possession stalled at the goal line, however, when Bears linebacker Noah Sewell stuffed rookie running back Jaylen Wright on fourth-and-goal from the 1.
“I saw the value in getting out there,” Tagovailoa said postgame. “It didn’t end the way we wanted, but it’s good to be in that game rhythm again.”
Wright would later get redemption, capping a late first-half drive with a 7-yard touchdown run. Behind backup quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers, Miami added two more touchdowns, including a 1-yard plunge by rookie Ollie Gordon early in the fourth quarter that gave the Dolphins a 21-17 lead.
The Bears, in their first game under new head coach Ben Johnson, countered with steady offensive execution of their own. They scored twice in the first half and capitalized on Miami’s missed opportunities to keep the contest close.
With 6:22 remaining, Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders drilled a 56-yard field goal to tie the game at 24. Miami’s defense then stifled a late Bears push, halting a potential game-winning drive at the Dolphins’ 41-yard line.
Ewers’ day was uneven — 5 of 18 for 91 yards — but his 21-yard strike to Alexander Mattison set up Gordon’s short score in the fourth quarter. Wilson was efficient in his reps, helping sustain drives against Chicago’s defensive reserves.
Dolphins travel to Detroit for two joint practices before their Aug. 16 preseason game against the Lions. Bears host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday following a joint practice with them later this week.
