The preseason is often about figuring out the contours of the roster. Sometimes, it’s simply about getting through the game.
On Saturday, the Dolphins extensively used a player who’d signed with the team a day before — and who hadn’t participated in any portion of any training camp, with any team.
And Stephen Dix Jr. was thrilled to have the opportunity, not just to play but to play a significant role.
“We had a linebacker who I met this morning in my office; Steve came in, met him, and he started the whole second half where we had to tell him the call, he had to give the call, then we had to tell him what to do on every single play,” coach Jeff Hafley told reporters after the game. “So we were able to play only like two calls in the second half, which has never happened to me in my life. So I just give him credit for going out and fighting. That’s what the preseason is all about, to find out who those guys are.”
Dix welcomed the challenge, and the opportunity.
“I think I had a quick 30-minute meeting with [linebackers] coach [Al] Washington,” Dix told reporters. “They told me, ‘Look bro, just go out there run sideline to sideline. I’m going to be in your ear and I’m going to tell you the call and tell you what to do.’ . . . Like that’s literally any football player’s dream, get told what to do and just go play ball. It was exciting. It was so fun out there.”
Dix, undrafted out of Arkansas, had been signed by the Cardinals but released in June.
“This is my dream, I’m doing exactly what I set out to do as a kid, and the journey doesn’t stop here,” Dix said. “It’s obviously putting together enough days to make the team and continue my career. Today was just surreal. It was a blessing. I can’t be more thankful. . . . To get this tryout and to get called to come up here and sign and not only sign and play, what more can I ask for? That’s all I wanted, was an opportunity to put the pads on.”
Dix was on the field for 34 defensive snaps and two special-teams plays. He made one tackle and had two assists.
Regardless of whether he wins a spot on the 53-man roster, he may have done enough to get a spot on the practice squad, where he can keep working toward his next opportunity.
